The Essential Guide To The Freesia
Botanical Name: Freesia spp
Common Name: Freesia
General Knowledge: The Freesia, with its zesty fragrance and colourful funnel-shaped flowers, is indigenous to the southern part of Africa, from Kenya down to South Africa. In Australia, freesias are extensively used in perfumery for their fresh, uplifting scent and are a popular choice for bouquets and floral arrangements due to their long vase life and variety of hues. A fun fact about the freesia is that it is named after Friedrich Freese, a German physician and botanist, and each stem typically bears flowers that all bloom on one side, making them uniquely asymmetrical.
Colour Range: Freesias come in a variety of colours including white, yellow, orange, red, pink, mauve, lavender, and bicolour.
Australian Seasonal Availability: In Australia, Freesias naturally bloom in winter to early spring. However, thanks to greenhouse cultivation, they are available almost all year round, with commercial growers chilling the corms to ensure a constant supply to meet seasonal demands.
Australian Wedding and Event Season Availability: Freesias are a popular choice for weddings and events, particularly from late winter to early spring, but they remain available throughout the year due to controlled cultivation practices.
Commercially Grown in Australia: Yes, Freesias are commercially grown in Australia.
Buying Tips: When purchasing Freesias, look for stems where at least one bud has started to open or is just about to, as tight green buds may not open properly. A premium Freesia stem should have a minimum of five healthy buds.
Design Tips and Advice: Freesias are versatile in floral design, fitting seamlessly into a variety of arrangements including bunches, bouquets, and posies. They are suitable for both sympathy tributes and celebratory events and can be wired for use in wedding bouquets and accessories.
Flower Maturity: Purchase freesias with at least one bud starting to open for best results.
Expected Vase Life: 7–10 days.
Typical Stem Length: 30–60 cm
Typical Bunch Size: Generally, 10 stems per bunch, though this can vary, especially with greenhouse-grown product.
Floral Preservative: Floral preservative solutions containing 25% sucrose are recommended.
Ethylene Sensitivity: Freesias are highly sensitive to ethylene, which can affect their blooming and fragrance.
Temperature Requirements: Store at 2–4 °C.
Avoiding Potential Problems: Avoid storing in cold storage for more than 2–3 days to prevent diminishing vase life and fragrance. Use clean rainwater or filtered water as freesias are sensitive to fluoride in tap water, which can cause leaf burning, smaller flowers, and prevent smaller buds from opening.
Cooling and Cool Rooms: Maintain a cool storage temperature of 2–4 °C.
Hydration and Vase Solutions: Ensure constant hydration and use floral preservatives to prolong vase life.
Care of Ethylene Sensitive Products: Take precautions to minimise exposure to ethylene, such as ensuring proper ventilation, using ethylene absorbers and keeping the plant away from ethylene sources.