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Garden Freesia (Freesia refracta)

Freesia refracta is a perennial, terrestrial herb with an underground corm.

LightIt is reported to grow in full sun to partial sun.
WaterThe growing medium is generally kept moist but well drained.
TemperatureIt is reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing.
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Garden Freesia illustration

Overview

Freesia refracta is a perennial, terrestrial herb with an underground corm.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range in the Western Cape of South Africa, describing a distribution from Worcester toward the Gourits River and De Rust areas. It is reported from the fynbos biome of the Western Cape. It is native to fynbos environments of South Africa's Western Cape, while cultivated Freesia prefers mild, frost-free conditions with cooler days and nights.

Characteristics

Sources differ, with the mature height reported at about 20–45 cm. The leaves are green and range from lance-shaped to narrowly sword-shaped. The flowers are notably fragrant; flowers of the genus Freesia are usually funnel-shaped and arranged in a one-sided raceme at the top of the flower stalk, with colors varying by species or cultivar and including white, pink, red, purple, orange, blue-purple, and bicolored forms.

Light

It is reported to grow in full sun to partial sun.

Watering

The growing medium is generally kept moist but well drained.

Temperature and dormancy

It is reported to be frost tender; keep above freezing.

Growing medium and mounting

It is reported to prefer moist, well-drained, organic-rich soil that is close to neutral; coarse sand or gravel may be added to potting medium to improve drainage.

Feeding

Young plants are reported to be suitable for regular applications of liquid fertilizer after they have established some growth.

Propagation

Division is reported to be the main propagation method, although seed may also be used; plants raised from seed require a period of growth before flowering.

Common problems

Freesia is reported to be affected by slugs, snails, corm mites, and potato aphids. It generally prefers mild, frost-free conditions; in cold regions the corms need to be stored out of the soil to avoid cold damage, while hot, humid summer conditions are also unfavorable for the best flowering performance.

Identification

Freesia refracta has small underground corms that are oval to conical, narrow leaves, and fragrant flowers; Freesia inflorescences commonly bear funnel-shaped flowers in a one-sided arrangement at the top of a slender flower stalk.

Photos

Freesia refracta
📷 Senet · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Sources