Freesia

Common Names: Freesia

The freesia is a type of flower belonging to the Iris family (Iridaceae), and containing a single species, F. refracta, native at the Cape of Good Hope. The plants grow from a corm (a solid bulb, as in Gladiolus) which sends up a tuft of long narrow leaves and a slightly branched stem bearing a few leaves and loose one-sided spikes of fragrant narrowly funnel-shaped flowers. Several varieties are known in cultivation, differing in the color of the flower, which is white, cream or yellow. They form pretty greenhouse plants which are readily increased from seed.

Freesias are strongly scented so they make a nice addition to any area. They have five to 10 single or double flowers. Stems are usually 10 to 18 inches long with little or no foliage. The bell-shaped freesia blooms up to seven days and comes in white, golden yellow, orange, red, pink, mauve, lavender, purple and bicolors.

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Classy Callas: Elegant and grand, simple and stylish, white callas make quite a statement all their own.

• Calla palustris - image