Freesias are prized above all for their scent — a fresh, sweet fragrance carried on arching stems of funnel-shaped flowers. Native to South Africa, they’re a favourite spring cut flower in white, yellow, pink, red, and purple.
Freesia at a glance
- Botanical name: Freesia
- Family: Iridaceae
- Bloom season: spring
- Symbolism: innocence, trust, and friendship
About the freesia
Freesias grow from corms and produce one-sided spikes of blooms that open in sequence, filling the air with perfume. They’re widely grown as cut flowers and, in mild climates, in the spring garden, valued for both their color and their unmistakable scent.
Freesia meaning and symbolism
The freesia symbolizes innocence, trust, and friendship, and is often given as a thoughtful token of a sincere relationship. It’s also a traditional seventh-anniversary flower.
Types of freesia
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- Single freesias — classic funnel-shaped blooms
- Double freesias — fuller, many-petaled flowers
- Color range — white and yellow are the most fragrant, plus pink, red, and purple
How to grow and care for freesia
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Plant corms in autumn in mild climates or spring in colder ones
- Give full sun and cool growing conditions
- Use well-drained soil and water while in growth
- Support the slender stems, which can flop
- Lift corms in cold climates or grow as annuals
Freesia FAQs
Do freesias smell?
Yes — fragrance is the freesia’s signature. White and yellow freesias tend to be the most strongly scented, with a fresh, sweet perfume prized in bouquets.
When do freesias bloom?
Freesias bloom in spring, flowering best in cool conditions. In mild climates, autumn-planted corms bloom earlier in the year.
Are freesias perennial?
Freesias are tender perennials that return from their corms in mild, frost-free climates. In colder areas they’re grown as annuals or lifted and stored over winter.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.