Freesia

Freesia refracta is indigenous to the Cape Provinces of South Africa, where it grows naturally in sandy, well-drained soils in the winter-rainfall region.

• The genus Freesia is centered in the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world's six floral kingdoms
• First described by Klatt in 1866, based on earlier collections
• Freesias were introduced to European horticulture in the 18th and 19th centuries
• Extensive hybridization began in the late 19th century, particularly in England and the Netherlands
• Today, the Netherlands is the world's leading producer of freesia cut flowers and corms
• Commercial cultivation has spread to countries including Kenya, Colombia, California, and parts of southern Europe

Freesia refracta is a herbaceous perennial geophyte that grows from a corm, typically reaching 20–40 cm in height.

Corm & Roots:
• Grows from a small, compressed, globose corm (~1–2 cm diameter) covered with fibrous, reticulate tunics
• Produces contractile roots that pull the corm deeper into the soil over time
• A new corm forms atop the old one each growing season

Leaves:
• Basal, arranged in a flat fan-like distichous pattern
• Linear to sword-shaped, 10–30 cm long and ~0.5–1 cm wide
• Bright green, with a prominent midrib and entire margins
• Slightly fleshy texture

Inflorescence & Flowers:
• One-sided (secund) spike with 3–8 flowers, each borne on a short pedicel
• Flowers are funnel-shaped (infundibuliform), ~3–5 cm long, with six tepals
• Tepals fused at the base into a curved tube, with free lobes spreading at the apex
• Wild Freesia refracta typically bears pale yellow to greenish-yellow flowers with orange markings on the lower tepals
• Three stamens positioned opposite the outer tepals; style with three forked, flattened stigmatic branches
• Flowers are strongly fragrant, particularly in the morning

Fruit & Seeds:
• Capsule is globose, loculicidal, splitting open when mature
• Seeds are small, globose, brown, and relatively numerous

Freesia refracta is adapted to the Mediterranean-type climate of South Africa's Western Cape, characterized by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Habitat:
• Grows in sandy, well-drained soils, often on slopes and flats
• Found in fynbos and renosterveld vegetation types
• Typically occurs at low to moderate elevations

Growth Cycle:
• Dormant during the dry summer months as a corm
• Growth resumes with the onset of autumn/winter rains
• Flowers in late winter to early spring (approximately August–October in the Southern Hemisphere)
• Enters dormancy again as temperatures rise in late spring

Pollination:
• Flowers are pollinated by insects, particularly bees, attracted by the strong fragrance and nectar
• The one-sided inflorescence and tubular flower shape are adapted for insect visitation

Freesias are widely cultivated as garden plants and for cut flower production. They are relatively easy to grow when their seasonal requirements are met.

Light:
• Full sun to light shade; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for best flowering
• In hot climates, afternoon shade helps prolong bloom life

Soil:
• Well-drained, sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0–7.0)
• Incorporate organic matter to improve soil structure
• Poor drainage leads to corm rot

Planting (Corms):
• In temperate climates: plant corms in autumn (September–November) for spring flowering
• In warm climates (USDA zones 9–10): plant in fall; in cooler zones, treat as spring-planting annuals or lift corms for winter storage
• Plant corms pointed-end up, ~5 cm deep and ~5–8 cm apart

Watering:
• Water regularly during active growth and flowering
• Reduce watering after foliage yellows and dies back
• Keep corms dry during summer dormancy

Temperature:
• Optimal growing temperature: 10–20°C
• Frost-tolerant to approximately -2°C for brief periods
• In cold-winter regions, corms must be lifted and stored at 5–10°C over winter

Propagation:
• By corm offsets (most common method)
• By seed (takes 2–3 years to reach flowering; used primarily in breeding programs)

Common Problems:
• Corm rot from overwatering or poorly drained soil
• Aphids and thrips on new growth
• Fusarium wilt and other fungal diseases
• Failure to flower — often due to insufficient chilling period or corms being too small