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 paludosus is a rare South African endemic species found from Witbank to Lydenburg, and southwards to Piet Retief and Wakkerstroom in the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces, growing in marsh and vlei habitats that are wet for much of the year. It has short-tubed pink or mauve, occasionally red unscented flowers; the lower lateral tepals have a broad diamond-shaped to semicircular band of dark mauve or purple across the midline. Flowering time occurs during spring from mid-October to mid-November.