Freesia is a perennial colorful bulb. It is a South African plant native with varying colors and named for Dr. Freese who studied the plants of South Africa. They can be single or double flowers. Some of the various types of freesias can have nice fragrances while others are not so aromatic. These make a nice addition to any garden plot or border.
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To grow freesias, plant the corms one inch deep in containers or the ground in August or September. Cover lightly with peat rich soil and water lightly. Continue to water lightly until they begin growing. Add liquid fertilizer to the water after growth begins and after they start to flower. After the leaves on the stem start to yellow and brown you can water even less frequently. If you are to use those stems in cut flower arrangements, harvest at the first sign of bloom. This ensures additional blooms will begin to flower in the vase.
Freesias require full sunlight and a richly peat soil. You may have to test your soil. For the best growth, allow to dry between watering and once the flowers begin to appear use a liquid fertilizer. Freesias may need stakes for support. As the flowers fade, they will need to be deadheaded (the flowers pinched off as they fade and die). According to the Michigan State University Extension, you need to plant in cool climates as they prefer temperatures in the 50s F. They have a hardiness in zones 8-11.
According to UC Davis Postharvest Technology, freesias have no standard in grading unlike some other types of flowers. Most freesias are graded according to their maturity level, the length of their stem, and the number of blooms that are on the stem. To be a good quality freesia they will need to have good sturdy stems and around 7 blooms per stem. Typically, there will be 10 stemmed freesias in a bunch.
To propagate freesias, do so by seed or their offsets. You will need to remove the offsets from the corms when planting. Seeds and offsets will start to germinate and grow around the four to six week mark. Germinating plants need to be cared for as they will be less hardy than already established plants. You may start them indoors with bought or homemade potting soil.
According to the PlantsDatabase from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the proper botanical classification for the perennial bulb of freesia is as follows:
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