Hi Lynne,

Are these in your garden? If so, how long before they get big like your clump?

I was lucky enough to obtain a few bulbs last year; it was the first time I've seen them. I always have liked freesias and now they make me think of Meryl Streep in Devil wears Prada movie (but I like their sweet fragrance though); I see a few poking their heads up. Wish laxa had scent like them.

Betsy

This clump (and several more) are in the beds at Joshua's nursery. He has a bunch of gallon pots for sale right now. I love the color and the grassy foilage. I bought one for myself. He said they would spread (sometimes more than I want). If they show up in other spots in my garden, I'll just share with others.

We got some from a friend. He called it an African Irid. Now we know them as freesia laxa. They seed themselves everywhere. My wife loves them, but to me they are weeds (any plant growing where you don't want it to). They come up everywhere. I'm always pulling them out of pots and beds. They come from South Africa (like the sparaxis in the front yard) and really seem to like our climate because it is so similar to their native habitat. In years past I've collected over 2 cups of seed in a season.

The tall green 'grass' in the photo is freesia laxa.

Carl, when you want to get rid of them, LMK, I'll be more than happy to take them off your hands.
BTW, you have gorgeous irises!

Hi Lynne. I've seen this photo a few times now and wondered that these plants are so tall. Do you have any close ups of the flowers? I wondered if it may be Freesia grandiflora that grow as tall as 2' and F. laxa half that. I wish mine were taller. Been here for decades and are wispy little things though still georgeous. The fans are less than six nches tall.

Here is a photo of the bloom. The flower is a bit over 1" across. The grassy leaves are up to 14" tall (on the one I bought). I wrote Joshua's nursery asking him as well.


Am curious what you all think

Thanks Lynne it is F. laxa. The stamens of F. grandiflora are long from what I've read and the plant is taller. I'd like to have it just for the size. Wish mine were as tall as yours. Ours have just started blooming. We're just starting to dry out and everything is bolting in the wet, warm weather and these can quickly get lost in the weeds there so short.

I think it depends on the growing medium. The F. laxa seeds that fall on unimproved ground in my garden grow into 6-inch plants, but the ones growing in containers full of commercial potting soil are about 18 inches tall.

The Director of the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory is giving a lecture on 'Growing and Propagating South African Bulbs' at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show tomorrow. I'm planning to listen if I can tear myself away from the plants and stuff. I could learn a thing or two. We grow quite a few south african plants. I see Kermit will be there but not tomorrow. Darn.

What time is the talk. My wife and I are working the AIS booth from 3:45 to close (7?).

Ernesto Sandoval will be speaking from 1145 to 1230 at the Sequoia Stage. Will you have any iris for sale?

I think the booth is information only. Information about the American Iris Society, the Region 14 Iris Society and the local iris societies. Also information on sources for buying iris and growing iris.

The spring shows for the local societies are coming up in April. I think most, if not all of them sell potted iris at their shows. I know that my society, the Clara B. Rees Iris Society will have their show the last weekend of April at Westgate Mall. We will also be selling potted iris at the Master Gardeners Spring Market.
There is more info at our website.

http://cbris.org/sales.html

To find other iris societies in Northern California you can go to the Region 14 website.

http://www.aisregion14.org/

I will be there on Thurs. Any of you there that day?