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Freesia 'Lovely Blue' (Lovely Series)

freesia 'Lovely Blue'

A tender flowering perennial which grows from bulb-like structures known as corms. In late winter, spring or summer (depending on time of planting), funnel-shaped, pale lilac flowers with cream-yellow throats bloom sequentially on thin arching stems above sword-shaped, mid-green leaves. Height around 45cm (18in).

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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

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but 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: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Freesias naturally flower in early spring, but need frost-free conditions. Plant corms in autumn, outdoors in very mild areas, or in containers in a frost-free greenhouse. Specially prepared corms can be planted outdoors in mid-spring to flower in late summer, but will only do this for the first year. See freesia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by separating corm offsets, or by seed. Young plants take a few seasons to reach flowering size. See freesia cultivation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Conservatory and greenhouse
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to dry rot and Fusarium wilt

Get involved

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