The Jewel-Toned Star of the Garden

handsomecho (70)in #photography • 2 months ago

Freesia laxa also known as Anomatheca laxa or flowering grass is a hidden gem. Though not as well-known as its fragrant cousin Freesia refracta, this South African native offers delicate beauty, intense color, and a laid-back attitude that makes it ideal for informal borders, containers, and rock gardens.Freesia laxa is a cormous perennial native to eastern and southern Africa, where it grows in grasslands and open woodlands. It belongs to the Iridaceae family—the same family as irises and crocuses.Unlike the typical upright freesias, Freesia laxa spreads low and wide, reaching about 15–30 cm in height. Its wiry stems hold star-shaped flowers that bloom in loose clusters from late spring to summer, with striking colors ranging from red, pink, and crimson to violet and blue, often with contrasting white or dark markings at the base of the petals.