Freesias definitely aren’t like any other flowers out there—they’re simply one-of-a-kind. In fact, if you take a stroll through any garden, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another flower that can match their uniqueness and eye-catching beauty. Literally nothing about them is typical!
Take their weird and wonderful anatomy, for example. The bizarreness starts at the root, which looks almost identical to a common flower bulb… but uh, it’s underground (odd, right?). And from the root, the stem shoots up vertically from the ground only to strangely start growing sideways at a 90-degree angle. From those gravity-defying horizontal stems, delicate blossoms start to take shape, accompanied by mesmerizing sword-shaped leaves that add just the perfect touch of green.
We’ll just say this: freesias are next-level attractive and boast a singular style that would make even the most dynamic pop star jealous!
So now that you know what makes freesias so physically charming, we’re going to give you a bunch of juicy freesia facts to chew on. Trust us – they’ll make you look at freesias in a whole new light—in a good way, of course!
Freesia Petals are a Common Ingredient in Cosmetics
For decades, freesia petals have been a mainstay in the cosmetic industry, and it’s really not hard to see—or smell—why. Their fragrance is without a doubt one of the strongest in the flower world. It’s absolutely delicious!
So chances are, if you buy hand cream, lotion, shampoo, soap, oils, or perfumes, then freesia petals will be one of the main ingredients.
(Just FYI: red and pink freesias give off the strongest scent.)
They Come in Nearly Every Color Under the Sun
When freesias start to blossom, not only do they give off that amazingly sweet scent we just mentioned, but they also flaunt delightfully splashy colors.
And unlike many flowers out there that rock more toned-down colors, freesias definitely don’t hold back when it comes to vibrancy. Their blooms—which come in brilliant shades of white, yellow, pink, red, lavender, orange, and multicolored—are super flashy!
Sadly, Freesias Aren’t Easy to Grow
While we love the fact that freesias let us bask in their stunning beauty, rich colors, and sweet smells, freesia season is not known for being a relaxing time for gardeners. Put simply, they’re tough to grow!
To grow freesias most effectively, you need to mimic their native South African tropical environment as much as humanly possible. But just because you hear “African” and “tropical” in the same sentence, don’t presume that they love the heat… because they most certainly don’t. For freesias to thrive, they need cool temperatures—just under 70-degrees Fahrenheit is usually the sweet spot.
Also, as a side note, freesia season typically runs from early spring to late summer.
Freesias Symbolize Strong Bonds
In the 19th century, a botanist named Christian P. Ecklon discovered freesias and named the flower after his best friend and fellow botanist Friedrich H.T. Freese. And thanks to that act of bromance, freesias forever became associated with lasting friendships and trust.
Over the years, though, freesia symbolism expanded to also represent the everlasting trust between a couple on their wedding day. For this reason, and the fact that they are a great complimentary flower in centerpieces, freesias are one of today’s most popular wedding flowers.
If you’re going to a wedding during freesia season, prepare to feast your eyes on tons of these friendly blooms.
Beware of Cutting Freesia Bouquet Stems
When prepping freesias for a vase, never—ever, ever, ever—cut or trim the stems. Sure, it’s the appropriate thing to do for nearly every other flower out there before dropping them in a vase, but like we said before – freesias aren’t just any typical flower. They march to the sound of their own tune!
Why shouldn’t you cut them? Well, to put it in layman’s terms, freesias have extremely thick veins that carry nutrients from their roots up through their stems and into the petals. When snipped, they release a hefty amount of ethylene gas into the air, which is quite harmful to flower blooms. You don’t want that gas coming into contact with your freesia blossoms or any other surrounding flower blooms or they’ll perish much faster.
But don’t fret, because if you put these freesia facts to use and give your flowers the proper care, they’ll adorn your house with beauty for 10-14 days!
Now that you know a few interesting freesia facts, we hope you’re officially in the freesia fan club like us! And if so, why not head over to The Bouqs Co. and grab a fresh cut freesia bouquet handcrafted by one our expert artisan florists.
We know you’ll love it!
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