Baboon Flower Freesia

Freesia is a genus of 16 species and many cultivars of flowering, herbaceous perennial bulb that, because of its preference for cool daytime and nighttime temperatures, is typically replanted each season from harvested corms and, thus, grown as an annual. Depending on the species or cultivar, the possible color of these fragrant, bright flowers include white, orange, red, yellow, pink, purple, lavender, and even multi-color single or double blooms. Freesia blooms make a good cut flower and are often used in wedding bouquets. The genus name, Freesia, honors a German doctor, Friedrich Freese, who was a student of C.F. Ecklon, who named the species.

Freesia do well in full sun or partial shade, although full sun produces the best blooms, and prefers well-drained soil. They are winter hardy, but frost tender, in USDA zones 9 and 10, but do require 60 to 70 degree F. days and cooler nights to fully produce blooms. The plants are injured below 25 degrees F (-2 degrees C), but can be grown in pots to winter indoors or as full-time houseplants. If planting outdoors, plant the corms 5 inches (12.5 cm) deep, spaced 4 inches (10cm) apart. If planting in pots, plant 6 to 8 corms to a pot, 1 to 2 inches deep. You can also plant corms through late summer, fall, and early winter to produce blooms at 10 to 12 week intervals throughout the seasons. To reuse corms, you can stop watering after blooming, let the foliage turn yellow, and remove the corms for storage in a dry place for replanting the following summer.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to aphids, thrips, slugs and snails, bacterial leaf spot, iris leaf spot, and fusarium wilt. Do not overwater as it can cause the corms to rot.