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 insolens is a rare South African endemic, localized habitat specialist, only known from two locations where habitat loss to damming of streams was a past and remains a potential future threat. It is found growing in the Piketberg of the Western Cape province. It grows in a few wet sites along streams and seeps in rocky areas on the higher slopes. It has a spike of one to three bright scarlet flowers and five to seven narrow grey green leaves.