About Freesia laxa (Thunb.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning
Freesia laxa grows from corms and reaches a height of 15–30 cm (6–12 in). Its green leaves are arranged in a flat "fan", with the flower stalk emerging from this fan. The flowers are flattened, measuring around 2 cm (0.8 in) across. Flower colour varies a great deal: the base colour may be red, white, or pale blue. The bases of the lowest three tepals usually have a darker marking in red or purple, though this marking is absent in the pure white form. The seeds of Freesia laxa are bright red. This species is native to the eastern side of southern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa, where it grows in somewhat moist conditions. It dies down to its corm over winter, regrows at the end of spring, and flowers in summer. In the wild in the Southern Hemisphere, it flowers between October and December. In cultivation, Freesia laxa is hardy enough to be grown outdoors in almost all parts of the British Isles, with the exception of the coldest regions. It needs a light soil and a sunny position. In colder areas, corms can be lifted and dried over winter. It can be propagated either by dividing groups of corms or by growing from seed. When grown in conditions that suit it, Freesia laxa can be somewhat invasive through self-sowing.
