A collection of Lithuanian gladioli cultivars and the most valuable Lithuanian hybrids, reflecting the history of breeding in Lithuania, as well as a representative collection of the most ornamental cultivars from foreign breeding and the most suitable for growing in local conditions.

The first Lithuanian writer on gladioli, known as kardylai, was J. Strazdas in 1930. Gladiolus (Gladiolus L.) is a perennial herbaceous, non-hibernating, cormous plant of the Iris family (Iridaceae Juss.), suitable for picking. They belong to the geophytes, i.e., plants with underground storage organs, where the plants hold energy and water. Gladiolies are native to southern Europe, southern and central Africa, Asia Minor, and central Asia, where 255 species are known. Two species of gladioli grow naturally in Lithuania: the imbricated gladiolus (G. imbricatus L.) and the marsh gladiolus (G. palustris Gaudin), the others are cultivated as ornamental plants. Over time, new cultivars of gladioli developed by selection from the common and cultivated species. Several thousand cultivars of gladioli are developed worldwide. They are valued for their cultivars of flower colors, their relative ease of cultivation, and their rapid reproduction.

Vilnius University Botanical Garden aims to accumulate a collection of Lithuanian cultivars and the most valuable Lithuanian hybrids, reflecting the history of breeding in Lithuania, as well as a representative collection of the diversity of cultivars from foreign breeding with the most ornamental characteristics and the most suitable for cultivation under local conditions.

Gladioli are classified according to blooming time, plant height, inflorescence shape, bloom size (diameter), bloom color, garden use, disease, and pest resistance. The underground organs of gladioli corms, tubers, and roots. The above-ground parts of gladiolus consist of stems, leaves, inflorescences, and seeds. Gladioli reproduce by seeds and vegetatively (tubers and corms). Seed propagation is carried out by breeders. Meristematic propagation is also possible. When purchasing gladioli that the world has adopted a numbered cultivars designation for them. The index of a gladiolus cultivar is a three-digit number preceding the cultivar‘s name, which represents the maximum size (diameter), color, and shade of the blooms. The diameter of the bloom (cm) is determined by measuring the second bloom at the bottom of the inflorescence after the first has bloomed. The size of the blossom is defined by the first digit of the index: 100 for miniature blossoms with a diameter of less than 6,5 cm; 200 for small blossoms (blossom diameter of 6,5-9 cm); 300 for medium-sized blossoms (9,1-11,5 cm); 400 for large blossoms (11,6-14 cm); 500 for gigantic blossoms (very large blossoms), with a diameter of over 14,1 cm. The color of the blooms is indicated by the second and third digits of a three-digit number. Paired numbers indicate that all petals of the bloom are of the same color and shade, while unpaired numbers indicate that the petals are monochromatic, with a spot. The cultivar designation 401 means that it is a large-flowered cultivar, i.e., the lower blooms are 11,6-14 cm across, the bloom is white with a visible spot in the center of a different color (e.g., red, purple, yellow, etc.).

		Gladiolus (Gladiolus) 300 'Snieguolė' (L) Gladiolus is a perennial herbaceous, non-hibernating, cormous, and suitable for picking. The stems of gladioli are erect and unbranched and the plant is about 90 cm tall.  The bloom is white, very corrugated, and up to 9 cm across. The inflorescence is densely double, about 50 cm long. Flowering starts 91-99 days after planting, i.e., Late (L). Developed in Lithuania by Paulius Ciplijauskas, in 1997.
		Gladiolus (Gladiolus) 312 'Saulės Takas' (LM) Gladiolus is a perennial herbaceous, non-hibernating, cormous, and suitable for picking. The stems of the gladiolus are erect, unbranched, and about 120 cm tall. The bloom is yellow, matt, corrugated, and 9 cm across. The inflorescence is densely double, about 60 cm long. Flowering starts 85-90 days after planting, i.e., Late Midseason (LM). Developed in Lithuania by Petras Balčikonis, in 1993.
		Gladiolus (Gladiolus) 423 'Solveiga' (M) Gladiolus is a perennial herbaceous, non-hibernating, cormous, and suitable for picking. The stems of the gladiolus are erect, unbranched, and about 130 cm tall. Blooms are pastel-colored (yellow-orange, pink), corrugated, and 13 cm in diameter. The inflorescence is densely double, about 90 cm long.  Blooming begins on days 80-84 after planting, i.e., Midseason (M). Developed in Lithuania by Alvidas Lukoševičius, in 1994.
		Gladiolus (Gladiolus) 263 'Skudurinė Onutė' (E) Gladiolus is a perennial herbaceous, non-hibernating, cormous, and suitable for picking. The stems of the gladiolus are erect, unbranched, and about 120 cm tall. Blooms are pale pink, very corrugated, lower petals creamy orange with dark pink spots, edged with yellow, 7 cm across. Double inflorescence. 70 cm long. Flowering starts 70-74 days after planting, i.e., Early (E). Developed in Lithuania by Linas Skibiniauskas, in 1996.