Freesia Single Rose

Freesia Single Rose is a cormous plant with a spreading habit supporting a unilateral flowering. The single magenta-pink funnel-shaped flowers have a sweet fragrance reminiscent of jasmine.

Freesias, also known as cape lilies, are native to East Africa, from Kenya to South Africa. They were named by Danish botanist Ecklon in honour of one of his brightest students, Dr. Freese, who was a physician, pharmacist, and botanist. These beautiful plants belong to the Iridaceae family. Their floral stems give them a spreading and highly branched habit.

Freesia Single Rose has deciduous, tender green foliage that is upright and sword-shaped with a sharp tip. Both the leaves and flowering stems reach a height of about 40cm (16in). The inflorescence develops from May to July. It grows on a convex flowering stem. This unilateral flowering consists of 8 to 10 cone-shaped magenta-pink flowers, measuring 2 to 3cm (1in). They are actinomorphic, meaning they are radially symmetrical. Each plant will have 4 to 5 flowering stems. The flowers emit a sweet fragrance reminiscent of jasmine. Some will even describe it as having tones of neroli with spicy and honeyed inflections. Freesias are often referred to as bulbous plants. More precisely, it is a corm, an underground organ that stores nutrients for the plant. Unlike true bulbs, the corm exhausts all of its reserves during each seasonal cycle and is replaced each time by a new one. These corms are conical and measure about 1 to 2cm (1in) at its base. They should be planted with the apex facing upwards at a depth of 5cm (2in). This will make it easier for the new shoots to emerge.

Freesias are frost-sensitive and cannot tolerate temperatures below -5°C (23°F). If you want to grow them in open ground, make sure that the last frosts have passed before planting. Plant them in a sunny location. They prefer moist, well-drained, sandy to rocky soils. They do not appreciate limestone. They can be planted with orange, yellow, or red crocosmias in rockeries or borders. Whether in the ground or in a pot, they can be combined with other elegant plants. While the leaves are green, the plant replenishes its reserves for the following year. At the end of the season, let the foliage turn yellow and dry. Then dig up the corms and store them in a dry and cool place, protected from frost. Replant them in spring. Freesias are perfect in elaborate floral arrangements. Once the first flowers have bloomed, you can prune the floral stem and keep the flowers fresh for about three weeks.