Freesia Double White

Freesia Double White is a cormous plant with a spreading habit and unilateral flowering. The ivory double flowers are shaped like cones and have a sweet scent 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 Double White has deciduous, tender green foliage that is upright and sword-shaped with a sharp tip. Both the leaves and floral stems reach a height of about 40cm (16in). The inflorescence develops from May to July. It grows on a floral stem with a convex habit. This unilateral flowering consists of 8 to 10 ivory-coloured cone-shaped flowers measuring 2 to 3cm (1in). They are actinomorphic, meaning they are radially symmetrical. Each plant will produce 4 to 5 floral stems. The flowers have a sweet scent reminiscent of jasmine. Some may even describe it as having fragrant tones of neroli with spicy and honeyed undertones. A luxurious and exotic experience is guaranteed with this beautiful freesia with double flowers. It is a cormous plant. Unlike true bulbs, the corm exhausts all its reserves during each seasonal cycle and is replaced each time by a new one. Its corm is conical and measures about 1 to 2cm (1in) at its base. It should be planted with the apex facing upwards at a depth of 5cm (2in). New shoots will emerge more easily.

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 paired with orange, yellow, or red crocosmias in rock gardens or border plantings. Whether in the ground or in a pot, they can be combined with other elegant plants.

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.