Babiana stricta (Blue freesia)

Botanical name

Babiana stricta

Other names

Blue freesia, Baboon flower, Ixia plicata, Gladiolus strictus

Genus

Babiana Babiana

Species

B. stricta - B. stricta is a tender, clump-forming, cormous perennial with erect, ribbed, hairy, lance-shaped, dark green leaves and, in spring, fragrant, purple, mauve, blue, or yellow flowers, sometimes with red centres.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Erect

Awards

RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)

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Colour

Flower

White, Cream in Summer

Foliage

Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Glasshouse red spider mite

General care

Pruning

Remove leaves only after they have completely died down.

Propagation

Sow seed from 13-15C in autumn. Remove offsets when dormant in autumn.

Propagation methods

Offsets, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Babiana stricta (Blue freesia) will reach a height of 0.3m and a spread of 0.05m after 1 year.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, City, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging

Cultivation

Under glass, plant corms in autumn 15-20cm deep in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water freely & feed at half-strength every 3 weeks. Decrease watering as leaves die down. In frost-free areas, grow in well-drained soil in sun. In frost-prone areas, corms are sometimes sold for spring planting to bloom in summer.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Indoor unheated (H2), Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Babiana stricta (Blue freesia)

Common pest name

common blossom thrips; cotton bud thrips; tomato thrips

Scientific pest name

Frankliniella schultzei

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Polyphagous glasshouse pest; present in many countries; single finding in UK.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/