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Freesia Double Sunset

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Bring the beauty of a sunset into your garden with Freesia Double Sunset (Freesia x hybrida), a captivating mix of double blooms in warm hues of red, yellow, and soft white. This hardy, cormous perennial thrives in cool to subtropical climates, creating breathtaking displays that mirror the colours of dusk when mass-planted in beds, borders, or containers, and naturalising gracefully under deciduous trees or across open lawns. Thriving in well-drained soil, it prefers full sun and can even enjoy some light shade throughout the day. With vibrant, long-lasting blooms, Freesia Double Sunset adds a glowing warmth to outdoor spaces and stays fresh in vases for up to three weeks, making it ideal for brightening indoor arrangements as well. Add Freesia Double Sunset to your garden this spring for a burst of colour and fragrance that captures the magic of a setting sun.

SKU: TCFREDSU006 Category: Tags: , ,

Description

Introduction to Freesia Double Sunset

Freesia Double Sunset is a vibrant blend of double-flowered freesias, celebrated for warm, sunset-inspired blooms and delightful fragrances. This cormous perennial from the Iridaceae family brings beauty to gardens and arrangements. Thriving in cool to subtropical climates, these South African natives create stunning spring displays bursting with colour and scent. Safe for pets and children, Freesias are a versatile, family-friendly choice.

Key Characteristics

Double Sunset freesias have long, narrow green leaves that provide a lush backdrop for double-petaled blooms in radiant shades of red, yellow, and soft white. Ruffled, layered petals add depth and texture. For those seeking a truly fragrant bloom, Freesia Double Sunset fills gardens and homes with a sweet, lingering floral scent. Its vibrant colours and fragrances enhance outdoor displays and are equally enchanting indoors.

Best Uses

Freesia Double Sunset is ideal for mass planting, creating harmonious displays in beds, borders, and containers. These freesias naturalise beautifully under trees or across lawns, bringing meadow-like charm to spring gardens and enriching both large and small spaces. They make excellent cut flowers, adding warmth to weddings, special occasions, or simple indoor displays with sunset-inspired hues.

Climate Suitability

This freesia variety adapts well across climates from cool to subtropical, thriving particularly in temperate and Mediterranean regions where it can naturalise and rebloom each year. While mild conditions are optimal, Double Sunset performs well in cooler, drier, or moderately humid environments with proper care.

How to Plant Freesias

Follow these steps for planting success:

  • Timing: Plant from March onwards, ideally in autumn before winter, or early spring after frost.
  • Location: Choose a spot with full sun, though it will tolerate light shade for part of the day, and ensure it is sheltered from strong winds.
  • Soil Preparation: Use well-draining soil; amend poor soils with compost and add sand or perlite for drainage.
  • Depth and Spacing: Plant corms 7 cm deep, with the pointed end up, and space 5-10 cm apart.
  • Watering: Water thoroughly after planting. Once shoots appear, keep the soil moist but not soggy for the rest of the growing season.
  • Fertiliser: Add slow-release granule fertiliser at planting. Top dress with a liquid, bulb, or complete fertiliser six weeks after shoots appear, with optional light feeds to support growth and blooms.
  • Mulching: Add mulch around the base to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature.

Aftercare and Dormancy

Once blooming ends, allow the foliage to die back naturally, helping store energy for the next season. Gradually reduce watering as the leaves yellow, watering sparingly during dormancy only if the soil becomes very dry. Corms can be left in the ground or lifted, cleaned, and stored in a cool, dry place until the next planting season.

Blooming and Vase Life

Freesias bloom in spring, typically lasting 2 to 4 weeks in the garden and up to three weeks indoors when cut fresh. For optimal vase life, cut stems at an angle, remove submerged leaves, refresh the water regularly, and keep arrangements in a cool spot.

Pests and Diseases

Though hardy, they may encounter pests such as aphids or thrips, manageable with insecticidal soap. Snails and slugs are best controlled through organic barriers or by hand-picking. Ensuring good soil drainage helps prevent fungal issues and bulb rot.

Safety and Allergy-Friendly

Freesia Double Sunset is a family-friendly choice, as it is non-toxic and safe for pets and children. Unlike many bulbs, these freesias pose no risk if touched, making them ideal for homes where safety is a priority, even for those with sensitive skin. With a delightful fragrance, Freesia Double Sunset is suitable for most environments; however, individuals with strong fragrance sensitivities may prefer to enjoy these blooms outdoors or consider varieties with a softer scent profile.

Supplied as dormant corms.

Additional information

Price Code

D – Purple Pack
Botanical Name

Freesia x hybrida
Quantity in Pack

6 Bulbs
Flowering Time

Spring
Planting Time

Plant from March onwards
Growing Height

25-40 cm
Planting Depth

7 cm
Soil

Use well-draining soil; before planting, enrich poor soils with compost or well-rotted manure, adding sand or perlite if extra drainage is needed. For sandy soils, mix in organic matter to improve moisture retention. Incorporate a granular slow-release fertiliser for steady nutrition. For pots, choose a high-quality, well-draining potting mix and consider adding a balanced, slow-release fertiliser to support healthy growth.
How to Plant

Plant freesias in full sun, though they can tolerate light shade for part of the day, especially in warmer climates to shield them from the afternoon sun. Protect from strong winds. Set corms 7 cm deep with the pointed end up, spacing them 5–10 cm apart to allow room for growth. Water thoroughly after planting and apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature, encouraging vibrant blooms in spring.
Watering

After planting, water thoroughly to help settle the soil. During the growing season, check the top inch of soil; water when it feels dry, aiming to keep the soil consistently moist without waterlogging. If growing in pots, they will require more frequent watering due to quicker drying of the soil in containers. Gradually reduce watering as the leaves turn yellow and begin to wither, signalling the bulbs to enter dormancy. Once the leaves have completely died back, the soil should remain mostly dry but not fully parched. Water sparingly during dormancy, only when the soil is completely dry, to avoid excess moisture, while ensuring the soil doesn't become too dry for extended periods.
Fertilise

Enrich the soil with a granular slow-release fertiliser before planting. Six weeks after shoots appear, top-dress with a liquid, bulb, or complete fertiliser. If blooms or foliage appear nutrient-deficient, an optional feed can be applied, but avoid over-fertilising as this may cause blooms and foliage to deteriorate or lead to excessive, weak growth.
Pruning

Freesias generally do not require pruning, but you can enhance their appearance by removing spent flowers to maintain a tidy look and prevent the plant from directing energy into fading blooms. Freesias can even be cut for display, but it’s best to cut the stems when the first flower blooms to ensure the longest vase life. Once flowering ends, allow the foliage to naturally die back, helping the corms store energy for the next growing season. Do not cut the foliage until it has completely yellowed, as this ensures the corms receive the necessary nutrients for healthy growth in the following season.

Freesias generally do not require frequent division but can benefit from it every 3-4 years or when overcrowding occurs. Dividing freesias helps rejuvenate the plants, promoting healthier growth and better blooms. After the foliage has died back, gently lift the corms, separate them, and discard any damaged or rotten bulbs. Replant the healthy corms or store them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, such as a mesh bag or cardboard box, until it's time to replant them. Dividing Freesias also helps prevent overcrowding, ensuring that the plants continue to thrive and bloom beautifully.
Please note: those who experience heavy frosts, humidity, and wet summers should lift and store these each year.
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