Floral Friday ~ Freesia

This sometimes overlooked flower is considered to be one of the most fragrant in the world.  Delicate blooms with a citrus scent, freesia can be a wonderful choice for those corsages and boutonnieres.

History
Native to South Africa, freesia belongs to the Iris family and is a genus that includes about 14 species.  They gained their name when botanist Christian P. Ecklon named them after a fellow botanist,  Friedrich H. T. Freese as a tribute to their friendship. It is said that freesias symbolize friendship to honor the bond between Ecklon and Freese.

White freesias are considered the most fragrant, but the flower can be found in variations of yellow, orange, red, purple, pink, as well as variations of each color.  Freesias may be either single or double blooms.