The Lovable Leucanthemum Freak®!
Today’s blog features Leucanthemum x superbum Freak!® (‘LEUZ0001’), USPP#23426, PBR, which comes to Rozanne® and Friends from Har Stemkens of Syngenta.
Freak! has received quite a bit of recognition:
- Greenhouse Grower (USA) – Best New Perennial. 2012 Medal of Excellence
- Chelsea Flower Show (UK) – final 20 in Plant of the Year
- HTA National Plant Show (UK) – Gold, Best in category (perennials).
In 1981, Rick James sang the 1980s funk classic Super Freak. James sings: “She’s a very kinky girl, the kind you don’t bring home to mother…” . Well, our Freak! will be loved not only by your mother, but all your gardening family and friends! So don’t be shy to try!
Freak of Nature
Why the name—because it is freakishly different than other Shasta Daisy-types.
- It’s short and compact versus tall and lanky
- Its flowers are frilly and showier versus the typical she-loves-me, she-loves-me-not form
- Earlier to bloom in production so earlier to market than standard varieties
- And it reliably reblooms in fall after initial flowering is cutback, unlike any other Leucanthemum
Freak!® plants are well formed and multi branched. Fluffy, frilly 2 to 2½” (5-6 cm) are evenly distributed over the plants. In most regions, Freak!® flowers from early summer to summer. In will rebloom in fall after spent flowers are cutback. However, it can also bloom continuously until frosts in cooler, drier regions, as reported by Gulley Greenhouse (Colorado) and Takao Nursery (Fresno CA). Expected garden height is 13” (33 cm) with spread of 21” (53 cm).
For growers
- Typically plant 1 liner per 1/2 gallon (2 liter) pots.
- No vernalization required.
- Plant outdoors in April or May for flowering 7 to 9 weeks later.
- Can program crops for weekly flowering.
- Standard media pH: 5.8 to 6.2; media EC: 0.8 to 1.5 mmhos/cm (saturated paste).
- Watch for aphids, thrips, fungus gnats and caterpillars.
- See our Freak!® technical guide for more information.
In the garden
- For front garden borders. Also, great in mixed containers.
- Short cut flower.
- Attractive to butterflies and bees. Long blooms long time; reblooms.
- USDA Hardiness Zone 4 to 8; AHS Heat Zone: 8 to 1.
- Grow in full sun.