Gladiolus is a perennial crop that shares many similarities with other herbaceous plants. Among these flowers, one can distinguish acidanthera, tigridia, ixia, snapdragon, mallow and crocosmia. These bulbous representatives of the plant world are usually planted in the yard, in the garden, and also grown as houseplants. All these “twins” of the gladiolus are shallow, therefore, planting material is sprinkled finely when planting (at a depth of 2-3 cm). Each of them is described in more detail later in the article.

Acidanthera

The flower in question may also be called Muriel fennel. The plant was discovered by researchers in Africa, where its growth in the wild reached 2 m or more. Cultivated specimens are smaller - 100-150 cm.

Important! Muriel skewer has more than 40 varieties that have fairly rich aromas. There is a possibility of an allergic reaction in some people who are sensitive to such pungent odors.

Acidanthera and gladiolus are often called relatives because of such similar signs:

1. The plant has powerful green erect stems.
2. The green leaves of the flowers are elongated and with pointed ends.
3. Both cultures are perennial.
4. The height of both the skewer and acidants are approximately the same.
5. The shape of the flowers of both species has a similar shape.
6. Plants have a similar agricultural technique.

Despite many similarities, Muriel's skewer has such distinctive features:

1. The number of flowers on the stem of acidants is two times less (6-7 pcs.), And also they are much smaller in size.
2. The flowering process is much longer.
3. The plant has a delicate and at the same time strong sweetish smell.
4. Compared to his congener, Muriel skewer has inflorescences not on the entire perimeter of the peduncle, but on its upper part.
5. Acidanthera petals are more pointed.

It should be noted that the plant in question has a longer flowering period (from July to October) than the gladiolus (from early summer to late August).

Tigridia

Tigridia is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the Iris family. In addition to some similarities with fennel, tigridia is more like a daffodil or iris.

Comparing with gladiolus, in this plant you can find several similar features:

• perennial;
• the presence of a bulb;
• flowering time (July - August / September);
• the presence of an erect green stem;
• leaf shape;
• features of care;
• height.

The species under consideration has the following features:

1. The plant has a thinner stem than gladiolus.
2. Inflorescences are located on top, and not along the peduncle.
3. Tigridia flowers consist of three large external and small internal petals of the same amount.
4. On the stem is 1 inflorescence.
5. Tigridium blooms 8–10 hours after blooming.
6. The floral pattern is characterized by spotting.
7. Although the plant has a similar leaf shape with a gladiolus, it is smaller in size in tigridia.

Ixia

Ixia is a South African bulbous plant from the Iris family. Usually, hybrid forms of this culture are used in gardening, as they have brighter flowers.

Did you know? Ixia was cultivated in 1970 and received the name “bird glue” (from the Greek “ixios”), thanks to a special substance in the plant, which is used for catching birds.

The similarity of gladiolus and ixia can be described as follows:

1. Both cultures have elongated sharp leaves.
2. Plants are planted using bulbs.
3. Gladioli and Ixia are perennials.
4. Flowers can be of various shades.
5. Landing and care rules are identical.

The list of differences between the bulb plants in question is much larger. Ixia has a fairly short flowering period - from mid-June to the end of July.

Distinctive features of ixia can be considered:

• more flexible stem;
• small flowers in the shape of a star;
• the location of the "spike" of inflorescences on the upper part of the stem;
• the presence of blackout in the flower core;
• pointy petals;
• smaller leaf size.

Snapdragon

The considered species of a herbaceous plant, although it is considered a perennial, but in gardening it is grown as an annual because of its insufficient winter resistance.

Comparing snapdragons with gladiolus, one can distinguish the following common similarities:

1. Both plants are perennials.
2. The stems of these flowers are erect.
3. High representatives (varieties) of snapdragon are as tall as gladiolus.
4. Inflorescences of both plants are densely located along the stem.
5. Both species have a similar planting system and agricultural technology.

Features of the snapdragon can be seen with the naked eye. Despite the fact that the differences between fenders and snapdragons are much smaller, it is impossible to confuse these two flowers. The process of flowering snapdragons can be considered long - the end of June - September.

They can be described as follows:

1. The flowers are similar in shape to the open mouth of a lion.
2. Small elongated leaves densely located along the stem.
3. The flowers are not collected in spike-like, like a gladiolus, but in cystic inflorescences.

Mallow

The culture in question has the name stock rose and belongs to the Malvaceae family. Although the plant is considered to be perennial, gardeners grow it like a biennial because of its low resistance to cold. In the first year, a leaf rosette is formed, in the second - the stems are covered with flowers. The flowering period of mallow is slightly longer than the gladiolus - the end of June - mid-September.

Did you know? Acidanthera is also called improper wintering gladiolus. This is due to the fact that the flower in question can grow in the middle lane, but an important condition is to dig it out of the soil and keep it at room temperature.

Comparing, mallow and gladiolus, one can distinguish such common features:

• perennial affiliation;
• growing with bulbs;
• large rounded flowers;
• the location of the ear of inflorescences along the stem;
• the presence of a powerful upright stalk;
• the number of flowers per plant;
• height;
• similar agricultural technology.

Such a significant number of similarities of many people leads to the false idea that the mallow is a relative of the fennel. The stock rose has significant distinctive features that do not allow it to be confused with a gladiolus.

These features can be described by the following points:

1. The leaves of the rose stem are wider, have a rounded shape and a light green color.
2. A bud may consist of 5-15 petals.
3. The flowers are rounded, slightly flat (in gladioli, they are more like a bell).

Crocosmia

This bulbous culture was brought from Africa. Crocosmia is a representative of the Iris family. The specimen in question (some varieties) can bloom before the onset of frost, and also tolerates wintering well enough with proper warming.

Important! Beginners are advised not to take complex hybrid forms for planting, since the planting procedure and agrotechnical features are much harder, taking into account the individual characteristics of this variety.

Crocosmia and gladiolus have some similarities:

• the presence of a bulb;
• perennial;
• height;
• elongated leaves attached at the base of the culture;
• erect stem;
• landing and care.

In addition to the above similar features, the considered species of the plant world are very outwardly different. On average, the duration of flowering of crocosmia is 3–3.5 months - from July to September.

Among the main botanical features of crocosmia are the following:

• funnel-shaped inflorescences;
• restriction in color (flowering yellow, orange or scarlet color);
• flowers with pointed petals (similar to a daffodil).

Thus, gladiolus has a well-copied appearance. Such flowers as acidanthera, tigridium, ixia, snapdragon, mallow and crocosmia have many similar characteristics and botanical features with fenders, but due to their external and functional features, they remain also unique.