Babiana stricta, the baboon flower or blue freesia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae, native to Cape Province, South Africa and naturalized in Australia.[1]
Growing 10- tall by 5cm (02inches) broad, it is a cormous perennial with hairy leaves 4- long.[2] The leaves show linear venation. It is a bulb-like plant that produces upright fans of pleated, slightly hairy, and sword-shaped 6 inch leaves. The leaves emerge in mid-winter and are followed by short spikes with blue or purple cup-shaped flowers in the spring. The flowers usually bloom for 3 or 4 weeks, after that, the leaves and flowers die.[3]
The specific epithet stricta means "erect, upright".[4]
There are many hybrids and cultivars with different colored flowers, usually blue or pink with white additions. In mid- to late spring, each flowering stem produces six or more blooms, each to 5cm (02inches) across. They are grouped in an inflorescence and often have a pleasant lemon scent. The seeds are black with a hard coat, collected in round seed capsules.[5]
Babiana stricta is tender (USDA Zones 8–10)[6] and in temperate zones is planted in containers and stored in winter at 5C.[7]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8]