Difference between revisions of "Freesia"

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(Sunset and AHS info)
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{{Taxobox
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{{Plantbox
| color = IndianRed
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| name = ''Freesia''
 
| common_names = Freesia
 
| common_names = Freesia
| growth_habit = [[Corm]]
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| growth_habit = Herbaceous ([[Corm]])
| high = 40cm
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| high = 18in (40cm)
 
| wide = 15cm
 
| wide = 15cm
 +
| origin = S Africa
 +
| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
 
| lifespan = [[Perennial]]
 
| lifespan = [[Perennial]]
 
| exposure = Sun, Indoors
 
| exposure = Sun, Indoors
 +
| water = regular during growth/bloom
 
| features = Flowers, Fragrance, Naturalizes
 
| features = Flowers, Fragrance, Naturalizes
| hardiness = Frost sensitive
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| hardiness = 20[[Fahrenheit|°F]] (-7[[Celsius|°C]])
 +
| bloom = Fall (outdoors)
 
| usda_zones = 8-11
 
| usda_zones = 8-11
| sunset_zones = 8, 9, 12-24
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| sunset_zones = 8, 9, 12-24, 28, indoors
| name = ''Freesia''
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| color = IndianRed
 
| image = Freesia.jpg
 
| image = Freesia.jpg
 
| image_width = 240px
 
| image_width = 240px
 
| image_caption = Cultivated freesias
 
| image_caption = Cultivated freesias
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
+
| regnum = Plantae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]<nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here</nowiki>
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
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| classis = Liliopsida
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
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| ordo = Asparagales
| familia = [[Iridaceae]]
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| familia = Iridaceae
| genus = '''''Freesia'''''
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| genus = Freesia
| genus_authority = [[Friedrich Wilhelm Klatt|Klatt]]
 
| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
| subdivision =
 
See text.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
Flowers give of a rich perfume.  White or yellow blooms tend to have strongest perfume.  Row of 2 inch tubular flowers appear on stems about the same height as leaves.  Flowers may be single or double, white, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple, lavender, blue or various combination's of these colors.
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 +
==Cultivation==
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{{monthbox
 +
| color = IndianRed
 +
| name = Freesia
 +
| jan = flowering**
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| feb = flowering**
 +
| mar = flowering**
 +
| apr = plant*
 +
| may =
 +
| jun =
 +
| jul = plant**
 +
| aug = plant**, flowering*
 +
| sep = flowering*
 +
| oct = flowering*
 +
| nov =
 +
| dec =
 +
| notes = *outdoors, **indoors
 +
}}
 +
In mild climates, plant 2-3in (508cm) deep and apart (pointed end up) in autumn for spring flowering, or in the spring for summer flowering.  After flowering, the leaves and stems will dry up, and then sprout from the corms again the next fall.
  
'''''Freesia''''' (Ecklon ex Klatt) is a [[genus]] of 14-16 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Iridaceae]], native to [[Africa]]. Of the 14 species, 12 are native to [[Cape Province]], [[South Africa]], the remaining two to tropical Africa, one species extending north of the equator to [[Sudan]].
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In cold climates, plant 2in deep indoors in a pot, and 2in apart. Keep in sunny window, with night temperatures as cool as you can.  Use a soil-based potting soil with added grit.
  
The genus was named in honor of Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese (1795-1876), German physician.
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===Propagation===
 +
Freesia will [[self-sow]] if dead flower stems are left alone, though seedling may revert to simple white or cream flowers.  Corms will quickly multiply underground.  If you purchase or collect seeds, they can be planted in July-August and should sprout easily, possibly blooming their first spring.
  
They are [[herbaceous]] plants which grow from a [[corm]] 1-2.5 cm diameter, which sends up a tuft of narrow [[leaf|leaves]] 10-30 cm long, and a sparsely branched stem 10-40 cm tall bearing a few leaves and a loose one-sided spike of fragrant narrowly funnel-shaped [[flower]]s.  
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===Pests and diseases===
 +
Freesias are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Large Yellow Underwing]].
 +
 
 +
==Species==
 +
There are 14-16 species of Freesia, all native to [[Africa]]. Of the 14 species, 12 are native to [[Cape Province]], [[South Africa]], the remaining two to tropical Africa, one species extending north of the equator to [[Sudan]]. ''F. refracta'' is the most commonly grown species, which during the 19th century got crossed with ''F. leichtlinii''.  Many cultivars arose from those species, as well as pink and yellow flowering ''F. corymbosa''.
  
;Species
 
 
*''[[Freesia alba]]''
 
*''[[Freesia alba]]''
 
*''[[Freesia andersoniae]]''
 
*''[[Freesia andersoniae]]''
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*''[[Freesia viridis]]'' (syn. ''Anomatheca viridis'')
 
*''[[Freesia viridis]]'' (syn. ''Anomatheca viridis'')
  
Freesias are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Large Yellow Underwing]].
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==Gallery==
 +
<!-- For plants with a lot of photos - a gallery can be added below, otherwise remove this section!  -->
  
===Cultivation and uses===
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<gallery>
Freesias are very popular [[garden]] plants, grown for their often strongly scented flowers. The most commonly cultivated species is ''F. refracta'', which was crossed with ''F. leichtlinii'' in the 19th century. Numerous [[cultivar]]s have been bred from these species and the pink- and yellow-flowered forms of ''F. corymbosa''. Modern [[tetraploid]] cultivars have flowers ranging from white to yellow, pink, red and blue-mauve. They are widely cultivated and readily increased from seed.  Due to their specific and pleasing scent, they are often used in hand creams, shampoos, candles, etc.
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Image:Filename.jpg| photo 1
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Image:Filename2.jpg| photo 2
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Image:Filename3.jpg| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Goldblatt, P. (1982) Systematics of ''Freesia'' Klatt (Iridaceae) J. South African Bot. 48:39-93.
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*{{wplink}}
*[http://freesia.co.nr/ info and pictures]
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881926248  -->
*[http://www.bulbsociety.org/GALLERY_OF_THE_WORLDS_BULBS/GRAPHICS/Freesia/Freesialist.shtml Bulbsociety: ''Freesia'']
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*American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432
*[http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/freesalba.htm PlantZAfrica: ''Freesia'']
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*Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608
*[http://www.museums.org.za/bio/plants/iridaceae/freesia.htm Iziko Museum, South Africa: ''Freesia'']
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 +
==External links==
  
[[Category:Iridaceae]]
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{{stub}}
[[Category:Corm]]
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[[Category:Categorize]]
[[Category:Flower]]
 
[[Category:Scented]]
 

Revision as of 20:23, 3 February 2009


Cultivated freesias


Plant Characteristics
Lifespan: [[Lifespan::Perennial]]
Origin: S Africa
Cultivation
Exposure: Sun"Sun" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property., Indoors"Indoors" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water: regular during growth/bloom"regular during growth/bloom" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.
Features: Flowers, Fragrance, Naturalizes
Sunset Zones: 8, 9, 12-24, 28, indoors
Scientific Names

Iridaceae >

Freesia >


Flowers give of a rich perfume. White or yellow blooms tend to have strongest perfume. Row of 2 inch tubular flowers appear on stems about the same height as leaves. Flowers may be single or double, white, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple, lavender, blue or various combination's of these colors.

Cultivation

Freesia calendar?
January: flowering**
February: flowering**
March: flowering**
April: plant*
May:
June:
July: plant**
August: plant**, flowering*
September: flowering*
October: flowering*
November:
December:
Notes: *outdoors, **indoors

In mild climates, plant 2-3in (508cm) deep and apart (pointed end up) in autumn for spring flowering, or in the spring for summer flowering. After flowering, the leaves and stems will dry up, and then sprout from the corms again the next fall.

In cold climates, plant 2in deep indoors in a pot, and 2in apart. Keep in sunny window, with night temperatures as cool as you can. Use a soil-based potting soil with added grit.

Propagation

Freesia will self-sow if dead flower stems are left alone, though seedling may revert to simple white or cream flowers. Corms will quickly multiply underground. If you purchase or collect seeds, they can be planted in July-August and should sprout easily, possibly blooming their first spring.

Pests and diseases

Freesias are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Large Yellow Underwing.

Species

There are 14-16 species of Freesia, all native to Africa. Of the 14 species, 12 are native to Cape Province, South Africa, the remaining two to tropical Africa, one species extending north of the equator to Sudan. F. refracta is the most commonly grown species, which during the 19th century got crossed with F. leichtlinii. Many cultivars arose from those species, as well as pink and yellow flowering F. corymbosa.

Gallery

References

  • w:Freesia. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
  • Freesia QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
  • American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432
  • Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608

External links