“From Bulb to Bloom: A Beginner’s Guide to Cultivating Beautiful Freesia Flowers”

Freesia, a South African native plant, is known for its colorful upward-facing blossoms and citrusy fragrance in late spring to early summer. It produces five to ten tubular flowers on one side of the stem, making it great for arrangements. Freesia is a bulbous perennial that grows 6 to 12 inches in height and 2 to 6 inches in width. It blooms in blue, orange, pink, red, white, and yellow. Freesia has blue/green foliage and is characterized as a low-maintenance plant that attracts birds and can tolerate drought.

For the best visual effect, plant freesia in clusters of 6 to 10, either as groups of single colors or by mixing the colors to create a confetti effect. Freesia thrives in hot and dry environments and needs cool nights to flower well. In zones 9 and 10, plant the corms in the fall, and they will bloom in the spring. In cooler zones, plant the corms after the last frost in spring, and they will bloom in late summer or early fall. After blooming, freesia goes dormant, and the yellow, wilted, and shriveled leaves must be removed before new bulblets can form.

Freesia does best in full sun, but light morning shade works as well. It grows best in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Overwatering can lead to rotting, so water them only sparingly. When the young plants are about 6” tall, fertilize every 2 weeks with liquid fertilizer. Insects that seek out freesia include aphids and thrips, while snails and slugs may also feed on them. Common diseases include root and stem rot, dry rot, and fusarium wilt.

Freesia grows well in containers placed in full sun or planted alongside annuals and perennials that do not require excessive watering. It can also be propagated from corms, the bulbo-tuberous underground stems. Freesia is a unique cutting flower and can be paired with dahlias, gladiolus, lady’s mantle, larkspur, cosmos, amaranth, and pincushion flower. Planting in rows for easy care and harvesting all season long and surrounding the planting bed with a low fence adds structure to the garden.