Gladiolus is the largest genus in the Iridaceae family with around 255 species. They are perennial bulbous flowering plants, sometimes called Sword lilies, but usually by its generic name, Gladiolus. It has been studied by taxonomists and now includes the genera Acidanthera, Homoglossum, Anomalesia and Oenostachys. The geographic range includes Africa, Madagascar, Europe, and the Middle East. They are treasured the world over for their beautiful, showy flowers which grow on tall spikes. These plants are often planted in cut flower gardens or in the back along the border, as they grow 60cm to 1.8 m tall. They make excellent cut flowers and are easily grown in raised garden beds and rockeries. Most Gladioli do equally well in pots. Gladioli are the flowers associated with a fortieth wedding anniversary.

Gladiolus calcaratus is a South African endemic species found in the Mpumalanga province between Dullstroom, Pilgrim’s Rest and Lydenburg. It grows on grassy mountain slopes, in deeper soils in wet sites or around the edges of damp depressions at altitudes of 2100-2400 meters. This species has lost habitat to timber plantations in the past, but this is not an ongoing threat, with plantations not significantly expanding. It is possibly threatened in places by competition from unmanaged alien invasive plants.