Gladiolus dalenii is probably the most well-known gladiolus in cultivation. The colour  of the hooded flowers vary from a mottled orange to orange/yellow combined with red. It needs a sunny spot and responds well to fertiliser.

It can be planted en masse or interplanted with grasses. In Nature it is quite often found on rocky outcrops in Grasslands.

It is one of the tallest Gladioli and can reach a height of 2m.