POTM 08 03

Freesias

Family name: Iridaceae

The freesias that we know today started life in South Africa, probably in Cape Province. They were named after the German Physician Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese (an e on the end of a German word is pronounced er). They were imported into Europe around the end of the 19^th Century

Freesias are part of the Iridaceae family, which includes irises. They grow from corms and are classed as herbaceous plants, meaning that they should come up every year if they are left in the ground. The long slender foliage appears far ahead of the eventual highly perfumed flowers, with the pink and red flowered varieties having the most scent. The flowers can be in single or double form. Sometimes double freesias have thicker stems than single freesias and a shorter span of flowers but the perfume comes in double quantity and that is what they are mainly grown for.

Freesias like to grow in full sun in well drained soil about 4 or 5 cms apart. When the growing tips appear, the soil should be kept moist. Once the flowers have died off, gradually reduce the amount of watering until the foliage dies down as well. Then you can lift them out of the ground or pot and keep them in a dry place until the autumn.

These plants don't do well in the cold, so are best grown where temperatures don't go below freezing. Although they are generally available as florists' flowers all year round, they flower in the spring garden here. When buying cut flowers always check that there is at least one flower open and always take off dead flower heads as they go over to encourage the rest of the buds on the stems to open as well.

They are regarded as one of the most favourite flowers around the world.