Did the gladiola get its name from “gladiator”?

No, the gladiola didn’t get its name from “gladiator”, but both the warrior and the plant got their names from gladius, Latin for “sword.”

If you look at a gladiola and squint your eyes a bit, you can sort of see that the leaves surrounding the flower stalk look like green swords.

And no, the radiator didn’t get its name from “gladiator,” either.