The easiest bulbs to grow, freesias are spectacular spring bulb flowers just like daffodils. These bulbs are small, but the flowers are stupendous. They come in a rainbow of colors and have the sweetest fragrance. Freesias epitomize the ultimate cottage style flower.  Freesias grow freely under any conditions.  They do well planted in shade, a sunny spot, and even in pots.

To grow freesias all you do is dig a very small hole, stick the freesia bulb in pointy side up, cover it with soil, water, and wait.  In early spring to late spring you will get a profusion of flowers! And just like daffodils, these bulbs multiply generously year after year.  Before long you will get tons of flowers from that original bulb, enough to keep some in the garden and enough to cut for your bouquet!

These bulbs are sold only in the late summer/fall, so grab them when you see them at that time. Or you’ll have to wait another year before the bulbs are available for purchase again.  Best time to plant these spring flowering bulbs is in the fall, this way they will bloom for you by spring time.  Freesias come in a wide variety of colors; ranging from white to blue, pink to purple, and yellow to orange and red.

Freesias in a myriad of colors

The history of freesias.

Freesias are from the Iris family and they are named after the German physician Friedrick Heinrich Theodor Freese from the 1800s.  Freesias are native to Africa. Go figure!  It is native to the eastern side of southern Africa, from South of Kenya to South Africa; with most species being found in the Cape Province of South Africa. I would never have guessed that these flowers would be native to Africa!

Wonder why freesias are named after Fredrick Heinrich Theodor Freese? The story goes that it was the German physician Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese who first discovered a special flower in South Africa in the 1800s. Freese was immediately fascinated by the beautiful flower and took it back to Europe.

Then German botanist Klatt first published the genus ‘Freesia’ in 1866, which named the flower after the German physician Freese who discovered it. Since then freesias have gone through a lot of breeding, cultivation, and hybridization in Europe, specifically in the Netherlands. Through breeding, a variety of colors were created, and these breeders continue to work on improving the performance of freesia varieties, color, and fragrance.

Freesias: The flower of friendship.

Here is another interesting fact, in the language of flowers, freesias are said to symbolize innocence and friendship.  And according to Teleflora, freesias are the 7th wedding anniversary flower.

Try growing freesias in your garden. They will give you a rainbow of flowers in the spring, and sweeten your home with their fragrance. The bulbs will be available again later in the year in early Fall.

To learn more about freesias check out these web sites.

Van Os Freesia’s

Easy to grow bulbs

Teleflora