Gladiolus in Zone 11a & 11b
Gladiolus spp.
Yes, gladiolus grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside Dec 18–Dec 25.
When to plant gladiolus in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec 18–Dec 25 |
| Estimated bloom | Mar 18–Mar 25 (~90 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of gladiolus in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)Dec 18–Dec 25
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Dec 18–Dec 25
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Dec 18–Dec 25
- CalendulaDec 18–Dec 25
- CandytuftDec 18–Dec 25
- Corn PoppyDec 18–Dec 25
Gladiolus is the one bulb crop in this group that runs on the opposite calendar from tulips, daffodils, and the rest. It's planted in spring, not fall, and blooms the same summer instead of waiting through winter, sending up 2- to 4-foot spikes lined with ruffled, trumpet-shaped flowers in almost any color you can order.
How gladiolus fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Gladiolus planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 6–May 13 | Aug 4–Aug 11 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | Aug 14–Aug 21 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | Jul 30–Aug 6 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | Jul 25–Aug 1 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | May 2–May 9 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Not usually | Nov–Jan | ~90 days after direct-sowing |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Not usually | Dec 18–Dec 25 | Mar 18–Mar 25 |
Bloom dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for gladiolus.
Where to buy gladiolus bulbs
We haven't vetted bulb/tuber suppliers yet. Our seed-supplier list below doesn't carry these. The growing-guide source cited above is a good starting point for where to buy.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing gladiolus" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Gladiolus in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest