Maya
Maya
Maya
Volante
Volante
Pink Passion
Pink Passion
Mercurius
Mercurius

Freesia

The Freesia is making a comeback. It was out of favour with the older generation of flower lovers, but lately one sees it suddenly reappearing in trendy bouquets. Moreover, besides, white, yellow and blue, there are also many new colours of Freesias.

The Freesia is a tuberous crop from the Iridaceae family, which also includes the Iris and Gladiolus.

The freesia originates from the Cape Colony in South Africa. It is therefore also sometimes called ‘Cape Lily of the Valley’.

The flower was given its name in around 1830 by the botanist Ecklon, a collector of plants in South Africa. He named the plant after a friend of his, the German doctor F. Freese. The first cultivation activities started at the end of the 19th century in various European countries and continued during the first half of the 20th century.

The freesia is a symbol of innocence, regardless of colour. The flower is the symbol of the 7th wedding anniversary. Worries may arise after 7 years of marriage, and the freesia then confirms the innocence and virtue of the couple’s love. It’s ideal for use for all customers who bought a wedding bouquet from the store 7 years ago, and thus to remind them about freesias.

  •   Properties
    Scientific name
    Freesia
    Family
    Iridaceae
    Origin
    Cape Colony in South Africa
    Meaning
    Love, True love, Friendship
    Shelf life
    Freesias will last for between 7 and 14 days (depending on country of sale, shipping and storage time, the provision of cut flower food, freshness and conditions at the consumer).
    Season
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
                           
  •   Care tips florists
    • Freesias can be stored in the cold store at 2 to 5 ºC.
    • In order to ensure that the flowers and foliage do not droop or yellow, it is a good idea to place the flowers in a small amount of water after a few days.
    • Cut a few centimetres off the stems with a sharp knife or secateurs.
    • Place the freesias in clean buckets or vases with clean water.
    • A preservative (preferably specially intended for bulb flowers) will ensure that the flowers open nicely, even the smallest buds on the spike, and that the water is not contaminated by bacteria. Freesias will open nicely at a higher temperature, provided that they were not too under-ripened when bought, particularly in the winter months.
    • When producing table decorations for dinners and buffets it is important to take account of the scent of some cultivars; this can affect the taste of the food.
    • However, ensure that the flowers cannot become damp as a result of excessive humidity or condensation in the cellophane because of the risk of Botrytis. with freesias this is often called spotting or speckle due to the small patches on the flowers"
  •   Care tips consumers
    • Cut a piece off the end of the freesia stems.
    • Place them in cold water.
    • Add cut flower food (specifically for bulb flowers or general). This will ensure that even the smallest buds on the spike will open. If no cut flower food is available, a spoonful of sugar can also be added to the water: a freesia needs a lot of energy to bloom.
    • The vase needs to be topped up regularly.
    • The best position for freesias is a cool spot.
    • The flowers will finish flowering faster in a warm room, next to heat sources or in direct sunlight.
    • Freesias should not be placed next to fruit because the ethylene gas which the fruit gives off will cause the flowers to age rapidly.