Freesia
Freesia hybrids
Freesias grow from small corms and produce arching stems of funnel-shaped, intensely fragrant flowers in many colours. They are famous cut flowers and grow well in pots in cool, sunny conditions.
Photo: Zaher.Kadour · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Keep moist while in growth; dry off after the leaves yellow.
Soil
Light, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
2–25 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed every two weeks with a potassium-rich fertilizer once buds appear.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by offsets, seed
Support stems with twigs or rings; cut faded stems.
Freesias are not toxic to people or pets.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant corms in autumn in mild climates, spring in cold ones.
Flowers need cool nights to form.
Store dry corms in summer.
One of the most fragrant cut flowers.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestThrips
Tiny, slender insects that rasp leaf and flower surfaces, leaving silvery streaks, curled leaves and distorted flowers.
How to treat it →
