Sword lilies (8)
I believe the answer is:
gladioli
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">sword lilies</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('gladiolus' can be a synonym of 'sword lily')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for gladioli that I've seen before include "Flowers in spikes (starting happy)" , "Some of Iris's family" , "Garden plants of the iris family" , "Plants with tall flower spikes" , "bloomers!" .)