The genus was named in honor of a German physician Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese (1795–1876) and is included in the Iridaceae family.
Freesias are herbaceous plants which grow from a corm 1–2.5 cm diameter, which sends up a tuft of narrow leaves 10–30 cm long, and a sparsely branched stem 10–40 cm tall bearing a few leaves and a loose one-sided spike of fragrant narrowly funnel-shaped flowers.
There are around sixteen species of these gorgeously, scented, desirable plants which are enormously popular here on the coast of Southern Spain. Most of the species are native to Cape Province, South Africa but two are from Central Africa and one from Sudan.
Not only do their vivid colours set February alight but to sit next to a potful with the warm sun bringing out every bit of fragrance is one of earth's undeniably simple pleasures.
I know you can't smell the perfume but close your eyes, feel the warm sun on your face and share with me some photos and imagine....if you can.......
Or, for your very own freesia experience, book a February holiday at Cortijo Azahar
Snowdrops and daffodils are no competition for these exotic freesia beauties.
