How to grow freesias

What are freesias?

These bulbs produce highly scented blooms. They are a bit fiddly to grow as they require conditions that mimick their native South Africa, hence this is why they are more popular to buy as a cut flower rather than a bulb for growing. However, if you like trying to grow new things, they can be very rewarding so are worth a go.

Choosing freesias

Freesias are sold as prepared or unprepared corms (see Planting below for more details on which to go for).

These delicate plants are vulnerable to cold, and can usually only survive a few degrees of frost, so usually grown in containers in the greenhouse and house. However, if you have well-drained or sandy soil in a sheltered sunny spot, by a house wall for instance, it is worth assessing your garden for a microclimate that may suit the growing these plants outdoors.

If you willing to provide protection from the cold for these plants, or have the right conditions outside, the only choice remaining is what colour to go for - the choice is yours!

Buying Freesias

Freesias are available at garden centres in packs of corms (bulbs) for spring planting. For a larger range of these lovely flowers you’ll need to try specialist bulb nurseries such as RV Roger and J Parkers. Most will deliver by mail order.

Find the one you are looking for by using our RHS Find a Plant.

When to plant freesias

Outdoor planting 

• Prepared corms: These are heat treated to mimic South African conditions and to give you an earlier display. You can buy these corms in spring for flowering in July and August but they only flower at this time for one season
• Unprepared corms: These are available in late summer for planting outdoors in August or September in mild areas with little or no frost. The corms can remain in place to flower in spring the following year

Indoor or greenhouse planting 

Get your indoor corms to flower from January to April by planting in containers (see below) between August and December. October planting should, under ideal conditions, give you flowers in March for four or five weeks.
 

How to Plant Freesias

In the ground:

During April, plant corms 5cm (2in) deep in well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered site with twiggy sticks for support. 

For containers:

• You can use a mix of two-thirds loam-based John Innes No.2 potting compost and one-third horticultural grit
• Space corms 5-8cm (2-3in) apart with the corm tips just above the level of the compost
• Water gently and place in a cool, frost-free area such as a coldframe at 5°C (41°F) for three to four weeks
• Transfer pots to a cool greenhouse or conservatory and provide a temperature of 10-15°C (50-60°F) through winter
• Give your plants as much light and ventilation as possible
• Don't let the plants dry out
• Apply a high potassium fertiliser, such as Phostrogen or tomato fertiliser, every one to two weeks once the first buds are seen

Watering and feeding

Storing freesia corms

Deadheading

Cutting back bulb foliage

• Cover seed with warm water and soak for 24 hours to soften the hard seed coat
• Germinate in the dark with bottom heat at 13-18°C (55-64°F); you can cover pots with foil 
• Seedlings should emerge after a few months
• Pot seedlings individually, dont allow seedling corms to dry out
• Grow on at a minimum of 5°C (41°F) and a maximum of 10°C (50°F)

• Aphids feeding on the foliage
• Glasshouse red spider mite on the leaves
• Slugs and snails eating the foliage
• Mice and voles can eat the corms

• Plant viruses
• Grey mould
• Fungal leaf spot, blue mould in over-warm moist storage conditions
• Sclerotinia disease