Gardening : Freesias Make Scents for Winter Color

Prized for their rich, strong fragrance, freesias are a graceful addition to any yard.

You can find freesia bulbs in nurseries now. Unlike many bulbs, you don’t need to wait until the ground is cool before planting.

Bulbs of these native South African flowers are among the earliest to bloom. If planted this month, they will appear in early to mid-February.

“When it comes to freesias today, there are loads of colors to choose from,” said Dan Davids of Davids & Royston Bulb Co. in Gardena. “You can find single and double flowers in white, yellow, orange, lavender, purple, blue, red and pink.”

The flower throat is often a different color than the flower itself. Color combinations are more noticeable in doubles.

Davids suggested placing freesias in walkways where passersby will quickly note the stunning fragrance.

This versatile bulb also grows well in containers and looks especially attractive cascading over the edge of hanging baskets.

Potted freesias can be easily brought into the house to brighten up dreary winter days and fill the house with their rich fragrance.

It’s best to choose freesia bulbs as soon as possible; the older the bulbs get, the less likely they are to produce well.

“Freesia bulbs are dug in August, dried and dehydrate from here on out,” said Davids. “The sooner you get them in the ground, the better.”

Look for bulbs that appear to be large and healthy. They are mechanically harvested, and every once in a while you’ll find a damaged bulb.

Freesias aren’t picky about their soil, although the more well-draining and workable the soil, the easier it is for them to grow.

Plant the bulbs with the pointy end up. In clay soil, they should be planted no more than a half an inch to an inch deep. In lighter soil, they can be planted two to three inches deep.

Freesia flowers are heavier than their stems. You can prevent the stems from breaking by installing metal flower holders, planting the bulbs three inches deep when the soil is light enough. Be aware that bulbs planted too deep in heavy clay soil won’t come up.

When planting the bulbs in containers, use a high-quality potting mix, and plant the bulbs two to three inches deep.

If left undisturbed, freesias will naturalize and come back for years. Even though an initial bulb may die in a year or two, it will have spawned more bulbs, and you will eventually have a mass of blooms.

Like most bulbs, in order for freesias to come back yearly, it’s important to let the leaves die back naturally and brown before removing them. If you cut leaves off while they are still green, the bulb cannot rebuild for the following season.

Freesias don’t require anything special in the way of fertilizer. They do fine with healthy garden soil and some all-purpose fertilizer.