Freesia in Melbourne

Freesia: a curved stem that opens in sequence

Freesia is recognisable by its outline. The flowers sit along one side of an arched stem like notes on a stave, and they open in order from the base towards the tip.

That sequence is why the bunch outlives its first impression. As the lower flowers finish, the upper buds are only beginning, and the stem stays in play for about a week.

Care, plus one habit

The basics are standard for a delicate flower: an angled cut, water to a third of the vase, changed every second day, kept out of direct sun.

The habit that adds days is different. Pinch off the spent lower flowers with your fingers as they go. The stem stops feeding the finished section and the remaining buds open more fully.

Freesia is also ethylene sensitive. A vase next to the fruit bowl means the top buds dry out without ever opening, and that is by far the most common complaint about this flower.

Scent and palette

The fragrance is fresh, somewhere between citrus and honey, and considerably lighter than lily or hyacinth. It registers close up without taking over a room, which makes freesia usable where strong scents are unwelcome.

Intensity tracks colour, and this is not folklore. White and yellow varieties are traditionally the most fragrant, while reds and purples smell noticeably fainter.

• White and cream, the most strongly scented group.
• Yellow, close behind the whites.
• Pink and lilac, soft fragrance in a pastel range.
• Red and purple, strong colour with a quiet scent.
• Double varieties, where each flower is fuller than the single form.

Choosing freesia by colour also chooses its scent strength. The two are linked more tightly than most buyers expect.

Pairings and recipients

A single variety freesia bunch is light and unassertive. Fifteen or twenty one stems packed together deliver volume, whereas a loose five simply disappear into a vase.

In mixed work freesia acts as the connective element, contributing line and fragrance without overwhelming its neighbours. It sits comfortably with roses, lisianthus, ranunculus and tulips.

The bouquet suits a thank you, a colleague's celebration, spring dates, and anyone who enjoys fragrance but finds lilies too heavy for a small flat.

For a summer delivery in Melbourne, take an evening slot. Thin petals brown at the edges in heat, and an hour in a warm car shows on them.

JFLOO lists freesia as its own category and uses it inside mixed arrangements. Buy stems with the upper buds still closed. The bunch opens at home and outlasts anything already flowering on display.