Freesia Single Orange

Freesia Single Orange boasts a flamboyant and unusual colour of a beautiful bright orange washed with golden yellow on the outside, reminiscent of crocosmias. This cormous plant is not very hardy, but its graceful flowering is as dazzling as it is deliciously fragrant. In a medium to cold climate, it is essential to plant the corms in a pot in spring where the flowers will bloom in the sun for a good part of summer. In mild climates, the corms can be planted in the ground where they will flower in spring.

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. Its deciduous vegetation dries up in winter.

Freesia Single Orange 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 35 to 40cm (14 to 16in). The inflorescence develops from May to July, at the terminal part of a convex floral spike. This unilateral flowering consists of 8 to 10 cup-shaped flowers, 2 to 3cm (1in) in size, all arranged on the same side. They are actinomorphic, meaning they are radially symmetrical. Each corm will produce 4 to 5 floral spikes. 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. 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.

Freesia Single Orange pairs well with orange, yellow, or red crocosmias in rock gardens or bordering flower beds. It also creates wonderful scenes with the blue flowers of perennial geraniums, forget-me-nots, or perennial flax. Whether planted in the ground or in a pot, this beautiful flower can be combined with other bulbous plants with an exotic appearance, such as agapanthus, tuberoses, moorea, and tulips. 

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.