I have tons of blooms but not one of my freesias have any scent. I have even gone out there in the evening to see if it might smell then. I have cut them and had them in a vase. No scent. These are some of the colors at the bottom of this arrangment. I probably have 80 or more blooming and not one has any scent. Bummer Can any one tell me why?
The newer hybrids usually have no scent. The original species Freesia's do--one reason I grow only the species. When they hybridize them, the scent is nearly always lost.
This is F leichtlinii--it has a fabulous scent.
=) Debbie
This message was edited Apr 7, 2007 8:11 AM
I agree with Debbie... the newer hybrids lost their fragrance during the hybridization process. In the blooming plant part of my local nursery I find that some of the white or yellow ones still retain a bit of fragrance, but for real sweetness I grow Freesia alba from Old House Gardens. It's a heirloom variety that has wonderful fragrance. The flowers are shorter and smaller than the modern hybrids. Mine started out a few years ago with mostly white flowers but now they have mulitplied and I get some lovely violet ones too, as in the photo.
Debbie, my hybrids have been fragrant, but the foliage before and after blooming looks so ugly, I am tempted to yank them out. Any comments as to why this happens? Mine planted inground, full sun, I don't water frequently, but they are in a low part of my yard. Water doesn't sit there, but it does seem to be the last spot to dry out after rains, etc.
That white leichtlinii you're showing needs to go on my list.
riverland, your arrangement is gorgeous.
They like kind of (mildly) acidic soil here. And they like to be fertilized steadily but not with anything strong--they, like everything else respond well to foliar feed.
There are several species which do really well as far as scent goes...F leichtlinii, F refracta. and F fucata as well as Freesia alba all do well for me. Bloom second year from seed as is that F leichtlinii pictured is doing now for me.
Thank all of you for the answers. I should have known because it has happened to other things I have bought.
Thanks Nery for the compliment on the arrangement.It's not hard to make them look good when the flowers are so beautifu.
