What Type of Gladiolus to Plant With Tomato Plants?

Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) grow from corms and will return every year under the right conditions. They prefer full sun, well-drained, rich soil and consistent watering. Gladiolus are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, depending on the specific variety. Tomatoes have similar growing requirements. Any type of gladiolus will grow with tomatoes.

Gladiolus Grandiflora Hybrids

Gladiolus hybrids grow from 4 to 6 feet high with flowers up to 5 inches across on tall stems. Up to 40 flower buds are on each stem. Plant them in the back of the tomatoes so the tall sword-shaped leaves don't block the sun. The flowers come in every color. Some unusual colors include green, black and brown. The petals may be ruffled and you can also find double or semi-double flowers. Some varieties are streaked with a contrasting color or the petals are edged with a different color. The tall stems may need staking in windy areas or where there is heavy rainfall.

Butterfly Gladiolus

Shorter than grandiflora, butterfly gladiolus, the nana group of hybrids, grow from 2 to 3 feet tall with smaller flowers splashed with contrasting color. The flower spikes have up to 12 buds and bloom in pink, white, salmon and an almost red. These are the only summer-blooming gladiolus which can be left in the ground in USDA zones 4 and above. The shorter varieties makes an interesting border at the front of the bed or perhaps clustered as focal points within the tomato plants.

Winter-Blooming Gladiolus

South Africa's cape region has more than 100 different species of gladiolus, and these types do well in warm, frost-free climates, such as Mediterranean-type climates. The flowers are not as showy as summer-blooming types and you may have to buy these types from specialty retailers.


In warm-winter areas, such as USDA zones 8 through 10, the corms can stay in the ground all winter. Mark where you've planted the gladiolus so you don't accidentally dig them up when planting the tomatoes. Plant the corms from 2 to 5 inches deep. Sandy soil requires deeper planting.

Types of Tomato Plant

Tomatoes are either indeterminate or determinate. Indeterminate keep growing and producing all season, with flowers, immature fruits and ripe fruits on the same plant at the same time. They tend to get leggy as they keep growing. Determinate tomatoes stop growing and put their energy into ripening their crop all within a week to 10 days. Because determinate tomatoes are tidier, they may be a better fit with gladiolus.

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