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Freesia 'Red River'

A cormous perennial with linear mid-green leaves arranged in a fan. Sprays of single, large, very fragrant funnel-shaped scarlet-red flowers with a yellow throat are produced in spring and summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–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: Clump forming
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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Outdoors plant corms 8cm (3in) deep in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Indoors, plant corms in peat-free, loam-based compost with added grit, in a position with full light. In the growing season, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. When dormant, the corms need to be kept completely dry. See freesia cultivation for detailed information

Propagation

Propagate by corm offsets; propagate by seed but may not flower for a few seasons. See freesia cultivation for detailed propagation information

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required, spent flowers can be deadheaded if seed is not required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite indoors

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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