Gladiolus crassifolius flower spike in Drakensberg grassland

The inflorescence of Gladiolus crassifolius grows on a stem that is only erect at the base, usually flexed after the last stem-leaf sheath. A plant may produce two or three stems from a corm, rarely five.

The flower spike is slightly to markedly inclined, presenting its 16 to 22 flowers all facing to one side (secund). Smaller side-branches may occur, bearing fewer flowers (Manning, 2009; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998).