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Conservatory GreenhouseHerbaceous Perennial

Freesia laxa var. alba

white flowering grass

A slender cormous perennial with narrow leaves and lax racemes of long-tubed, starry white flowers in late spring or early summer

Synonyms

Anomatheca laxa var. alba
Anomatheca cruenta var. alba

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Freesia are cormous deciduous perennials with erect, linear to narrowly lance-shaped leaves and upright stems bearing terminal racemes of slender-tubed, salver-shaped or trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually scented
Name status: Correct
Plant range: S & E Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Freesias are naturally winter-growers starting into growth in autumn through to late spring so are usually grown in a frost-free greenhouse. Plant in pots of peat-free, loam-based compost with added gritty sand. Place in full light with good ventilation, water well and feed monthly until flower buds form. After flowering, dry off pots and store dry over the summer. Corms can also be stored dry over the winter and planted in well-drained soil in spring for later flowering. Lift in autumn and store dry

Propagation

Sow seed in containers at 13-18°C in autumn or winter. Remove offsets in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Foliage can be removed after it dies down after flowering

Pests

Susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids

Diseases

Susceptible to Fusarium wilt and a virus

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