Cornucopia II lists two edible Gladiolus, but I don't have enough to eat, and besides, I always want the flowers to produce seeds. I guess one could carefully snip the petals and leave the seedmaking parts intact. G. dalenii, Khahla-ea-kholo the anthers are removed and the flowers are eaten raw as a salad or used as a potherb. Children suck the copious nectar. G. italicus, Salepotu corms are added to ice cream and other dairy products as salep is. Dalenii does grow outside here, and papilio spreads well, but not enough to be considered a weed. Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada maritime zone 8, cool Mediterranean climate mild rainy winters, mild dry summers