A tall vase filled with a profusion of flowers stands at the center of the composition, its rounded white body decorated with blue floral patterns. The bouquet bursts upward and outward, dominated by spiky orange-red gladioli that fan across the upper right, their pointed petals and stems reaching toward the edge of the canvas. Yellow blooms spill over the rim of the vase at the lower right, their small petals painted with dabs and swirls that create a sense of lively density.

The leaves, painted in deep greens and browns, twist and curl around the flowers, some drooping over the side of the vase, others standing upright to frame the bouquet. Light falls from the upper left, illuminating the tops of the flowers and casting gentle shadows on the lower petals and the table surface below. The table is rendered in earthy browns, with reflections and soft edges that suggest a polished surface beneath the vase.

The brushwork throughout is energetic and visible, with thick, expressive strokes that build up the forms of the flowers and leaves, characteristic of the Impressionism movement. The composition is vertically oriented, emphasizing the height of the bouquet and the slender shape of the canvas. Every element is arranged to create a sense of abundance and upward movement, with the tallest gladioli reaching beyond the clustered blooms below. The subject brings together gladiolus and lilac, as noted in the title and supported by the visible forms of the flowers.

The painting is associated with the Impressionism movement, as seen in the loose, vibrant application of paint and the focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color.