How to Grow Freesia

Freesias are a popular spring flowering bulb that produces bright and cheerful blooms with a delightful scent to boot! They are available in a range of vibrant colours, including pinks, white, yellow, mauve and red and can be grown from seed or corms (bulbs). They're easy to grow and require little maintenance once established. Great as a mass planting to create a scented garden in spring, around rockeries, under trees or in pots scattered around the yard or balcony.

Full sun to part shade

Drought tolerant once established

Well drained

Suitable for all climatic zones

How to grow freesia from in a garden

Step 1

Choose a well drained spot in the garden that receives full sun or part shade.

Step 2

Enrich the soil with some Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser before planting.

Step 3

Place corms directly where the plants are to grow at a depth of 7cm.

Step 4

Cover with soil.

Step 5

Keep the soil moist.

Step 6

Feed every 1 – 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food, which is rich in potassium to help promote healthy plants and lots of flowers next season.

Step 7

After the flowers and foliage die, lift the corms from the soil and store them in a cool dry place ready for the next season. Freesias can also be left in the ground to multiply.

How to grow freesia in a pot

Step 1

Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to part shade and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Step 2

Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, cover, firm down and water gently. Alternatively, you can sow the seeds directly where they are to grow.

Step 3

Water gently and keep moist through germination period.

Step 4

The seedling are ready to transplant when they are approximately 5cm in height.

Step 5

When transplanting them into your prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are well spaced – at least 20-30cm apart. Water in well.

Step 6

Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, sugar cane or pea straw.

Step 7

Feed every 1 – 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food, which is rich in potassium to help promote healthy plants and lots of flowers next season.

Freesia Growing Tips

Ensure that you allow the plants to die down before lifting. This will provide the most energy to the corm for next season's growth.
Great for mass plantings in beds, under trees that provide part shaded conditions or on grassy banks.
Germination by seed may be improved by soaking seeds in tepid water for 24 hours before sowing.
Freesias can be left in the ground or garden bed for several years.
Freesias can become weedy in certain areas. Remove seed heads from plants to reduce self seeding numbers.
Freesia seeds can be planted in late summer and autumn.
Freesia bulbs can be planted in early to mid autumn.