Gladiolus caryophyllaceus flowers

The inflorescence of Gladiolus caryophyllaceus is an erect spike bearing from two to eight flowers, usually around four. Two green or partly grey bracts enfold each flower, the outer slightly longer.

The large, sweetly carnation-scented flowers are pale to deep pink or mauve. The lower tepals are variably streaked and spotted red. The corolla tube is funnel-shaped, about 3 cm to 4 cm in length and curved outwards. 

The oblong anthers are shorter than the style that ends three-branched. The exserted filaments are about 2,5 cm long the anthers 1,2 cm.

Blooming happens from late winter to after midspring (Manning, 2009; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).