Meaning of the Freesia Flower

Freesia flowers convey a variety of meanings, including friendship, innocence, thoughtfulness, perseverance and being high-spirited. In the language of flowers, freesias were traditionally used to convey friendship. Contemporary florists, noting its graceful appearance, recommend freesia for someone who is graceful under pressure.

Significance

Freesia is a symbol for multiple sentiments. The traditional yellow flower is said to mainly signify friendship while the white freesia is used as an expression of innocence, according to Teleflora.com.

The bell-shaped flower with an almost citrus fragrance comes in a variety of colors, but specific meanings are only attached to the white or yellow freesias. The long-lasting cut flower has become a common addition to contemporary floral bouquets.

History
Using flowers as a language to convey feelings, known as floriagraphy, peaked in the Victorian Era of the 19th Century, when polite society did not speak of emotions and writers, especially women writers, attached secret meanings to flowers and plants. Many flowers, including roses, iris, carnations and lilies, had multiple meanings depending on their color and how they were arranged or presented.


Origins
Freesias are native to Africa with 14 of its species growing wild in South Africa and two native to the Sudan and Saharan Africa. Freesias were not cultivated until 1878, but created a sensation in Victorian England, France and the United States after their introduction, according to The Flower Expert.

Some varieties have naturalized in coastal areas of California, but freesias generally are difficult to grow in the United States other than in commercial greenhouse settings.

The freesia is named after German physician Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freese, according to Teleflora.com.

Characteristics
White freesias are considered the most fragrant, but the flower can be found in variations of yellow, orange, red, purple, mauve and pink, as well as striped varieties of each color.

The bright flowers blossom along one side of the plant's stem, a pattern known as "zygomorpic." While the buds are produced facing downward, the stem bends as the flowers mature so that the blossoms end up facing upward. Each long stem produces up to 10 flowers with little foliage, according to About Flowers.

Cut freesias will last up to 14 days.

Contemporary Meanings
Freesias are the traditional flower for a seventh wedding anniversary.

Their graceful appearance has led some florists to recommend bouquets of freesia be given to thank someone for performing gracefully under pressure.

Uses
In addition to being used as cut flowers, freesia flowers are grown for their scented oil, which is used in perfumes, bath oils, soaps and lotions, according to The Flower Expert.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_6514432_meaning-freesia-flower_.html

What Is Freesia?

The Freesia genus consists of 14 to 16 species of flowering herbaceous plants characterized by narrow, grasslike leaves and intensely fragrant, funnel shaped flowers. Freesias are popular plants for both the garden and the home. The unique fragrance of the flower is common in lotions, perfumes and shampoo.
Appearance
Freesias grow from an underground corm, reaching an average height between 12 and 18 inches. A member of the iris family (Iridaceae), freesias have slender, irislike leaves and long, narrow stems. Freesias bloom in the summer, producing delicate, funnel-shaped flowers that may be blue, pink, red or yellow depending on cultivar. Multi-colored hybrids and cultivars are common, as are double blooming varieties.

Outdoor Care
Plant freesia corms in well-draining, loose soil in either spring or fall. Freesias are tender perennials that will suffer if temperatures drop below 25 degrees F. Plant at a depth of 2 to 5 inches, and space corms 2 to 4 inches apart. Outdoor plants prefer full sunlight, though they will tolerate partial shade in warmer climates. Water regularly during the growing season but withhold water during summer dormancy.

Indoor Care
Find a sunny indoor location for your freesia, and plant in a rich, sandy potting mix. A mixture of equal parts garden loam, sand, peat moss and compost works well. Add a tablespoon of steam bone meal to the mix to promote healthy flowering during the growing season, and fertilize with fish emulsion or a houseplant fertilizer. Water regularly to keep the soil moist to the touch. Freesias do best with a nighttime temperature of 50 degrees and a daytime temperature around 65 degrees.

Pests
Bulb mites and aphids can become a problem for freesia flowers. Inspect flower corms before planting for mites -- tiny, grublike insects that feed on corms. Destroy infested corms and corms that are soft or decayed. Take care not to scratch or injure healthy corms, as damaged corms are more prone to pests. Aphids can be removed with insecticidal soap, a steady stream of water, or predatory insects such as ladybugs.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/info_8053823_freesia.html