A cormous perennial known as freesia (Freesia x hybrida), it has green foliage in the shape of spears that radiates out from the base. It is indigenous to South Africa and belongs to the Iridaceae family. Freesia bloom in the spring, when an upright flower spike pokes through the foliage in the shape of a spear, and 5 to 10 blooms develop along the spike. The flowers have a trumpet form and come in a variety of vivid colours, including pink, white, yellow, mauve, and red. The majority of freesia species have strong scents. They tolerate extremely mild shade for a portion of the day but prefer full sun.
You may have noticed (or smelled!) freesia patches blooming along the side of the road or at the edge of a wilderness. To make sure they’re prepared to gather dozens of blooms as soon as they bloom in late winter and early spring, some freesia aficionados even have these places written.
If you haven’t seen them in the wild, however, don’t be concerned. You may enjoy freesias’ blossoms in your own garden year after year because they are so simple to grow. Their trumpet-shaped flowers, which come in a range of vibrant colours like white, red, yellow, cream, pink, and purple, and look gorgeous grown in bulk, are shaped like trumpets.
GROWING GUIDELINES FOR Freesia
Since freesias are South African natives, they have adapted nicely to our climate. Among these perennials,Because they last a long time in vases, freesias are highly coveted for their cut blossoms. If you clip some freesia blossoms as buds, they can survive up to three weeks. Generally speaking, it is best to trim flowers in the early morning hours before the sun has had a chance to wreak havoc on the bud. Each flower should be cut with a sharp pair of scissors or secateurs at an angle, and then placed right away in a vase. Your cut flowers’ lifespan can be increased by up to 20% by adding some flower food to the water.
Ground or a container
Although planting corms in pots is frequently simpler, it is frequently preferable to plant freesias in the border because they can be supported covertly and exhibit their best hues when other plants are dormant.
How to Plant Freesias: Where and When
Freesias flourish in containers on the patio or balcony but also enjoy growing in the front-middle portion of borders where they have plenty of neighbourly assistance. In locations where they will receive the majority of the day’s sunlight, freesias prefer moderately fertile yet well-drained soils.
For flowering from June to August, the best time to plant Freesia bulbs is between March and April.
Select a location that is bright, has freely draining soil, and is warm in the summer when freesias should be dormant and cool in the spring when they should flower. Due of the protection they offer from winter winds and frosts, easterly walls make ideal locations.
Tips For Planting Freesias
Lightly fork over the area in April and stir in horticultural grit
Dig a series of shallow trenches that are spaced 5-8 cm (2-3 in) apart and 5 cm (2 in) deep. If you have dense soil, it can be worthwhile to add a little extra grit and sharp sand to the trenches to improve drainage and prevent the corms from sitting in water for a lengthy amount of time.
After placing the corms in the shallow trenches, cover them gently with hand tools or gloved hands until only the tips are visible above the surface.
Use twigs or a structure like our half-circle supports to support new growth.