Freesia Freesia refracta hybrids
Freesia (Freesia refracta hybrids) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Iridaceae family, native to Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It grows 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall and 10–20 cm (4–8 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -5 °C (23 °F). Space plants about 10 cm (4 in) apart.
Plan Freesia in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Freesia at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Iridaceae |
| Mature height | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Mature spread | 10–20 cm (4–8 in) |
| Spacing | 10 cm (4 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -5 °C (23 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 28 °C (82 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 3–5 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇦🇺 Australia |
| Invasive in | Australia (naturalised freesia hybrids are an environmental weed in several states): check local rules before planting |
Is Freesia toxic?
- People: not well documented
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
Toxicity is not well documented; not listed as a significant poison by the ASPCA or RHS.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Freesia
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Freesia in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Kirstenbosch (12 plants)
Questions about Freesia
- How far apart should I plant Freesia?
- About 10 cm (4 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 10–20 cm (4–8 in).
- Does Freesia need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Freesia need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Freesia?
- It tolerates about -5 °C (23 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Freesia flower?
- From about June for 3–5 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Freesia poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not well documented. Toxicity is not well documented; not listed as a significant poison by the ASPCA or RHS.
- What grows well with Freesia?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Freesia. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
- In frost-free climates freesias are planted in autumn and flower late winter to spring; elsewhere they are planted in spring or grown as pot plants.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Bearded iris Iris germanica
- Japanese iris Iris ensata
- Siberian iris Iris sibirica
- Dutch crocus Crocus vernus
- Gladiolus Gladiolus x hortulanus
- Montbretia (crocosmia) Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
- African iris Dietes grandiflora
- Bugle lily (watsonia) Watsonia borbonica