Freesia, native to South Africa, is prized for its intense, sweet perfume and vibrant, funnel-shaped blossoms that grow along one side of the stem. These flowers range in color from white and yellow to deep purple, making them popular for gardens and cut-flower arrangements. Successful cultivation depends on planting the corms—often incorrectly called bulbs—at the correct time to align with local climate conditions and avoid frost damage.
Planting Timing Based on Climate
The month you plant freesia corms depends on your region’s winter temperatures, as these tender plants cannot survive a hard freeze. Freesias are hardy only in USDA Zones 9 and 10, which experience mild or nearly frost-free winters. In these warmer areas, planting is best done in the fall, specifically from September through November. This autumn planting allows the corms to establish a robust root system during the cool, moist winter, leading to a natural bloom cycle in late winter or early spring, typically February through March.
For regions with cold or freezing winters (Zones 8 and below), the planting schedule must shift to avoid corm death in the frozen ground. In these climates, plant freesia corms in the spring, waiting until after the last expected hard frost has passed (usually between March and May). Planting in spring treats the freesia as an annual, with flowering occurring in the late summer months. To ensure successful blooming in colder zones, corms are often heat-treated before sale. This process mimics their native warm dormancy, encouraging them to sprout and flower within 110 to 120 days of planting.
Gardeners seeking earlier blooms can opt for indoor forcing, a method that allows for flexible planting times. Freesia corms do not require a chilling period, making them ideal for indoor cultivation, unlike many other spring-flowering bulbs. Plant corms in pots in late autumn (October or November) and keep them in a cool, bright location with night temperatures between 45°F and 55°F. This technique allows foliage to develop over the winter, resulting in fragrant blooms as early as late winter or early spring inside your home.
Preparing the Planting Site
Before planting, the site must be prepared to meet the freesia’s needs. Freesias require a location that receives full sun for at least six to eight hours each day to promote strong stem growth and abundant flowering. While they can tolerate light, dappled shade, insufficient sunlight often results in weak, floppy stems and reduced flower production.
The soil composition is equally important, demanding a rich, fertile, and exceptionally well-draining medium. Freesia corms are highly susceptible to rot if they sit in overly saturated or heavy soil, which is a common cause of planting failure. To ensure proper drainage, loosen the planting area to a depth of about eight inches, and amend heavy clay soils with organic material.
Incorporating well-rotted compost, aged manure, or coarse horticultural grit will improve soil aeration and drainage. This addition helps create the loose, sandy loam structure that freesias thrive in, preventing waterlogging. The soil pH preference for freesia is neutral to slightly acidic, ranging from 6.5 to 7.0.
The Planting Process
Once the site is prepared, planting the freesia corms requires attention to depth, spacing, and orientation for successful growth. The corms should be planted at a depth of 2 to 3 inches below the soil surface. Planting too deeply can delay or prevent the emergence of new shoots.
Proper spacing is necessary for air circulation and full development, requiring corms to be placed 3 to 4 inches apart. When positioning the corm, ensure the pointed end faces upward, as this is where the new shoot emerges. Although some gardeners soak the corms before planting, this step is not required.
Immediately following planting, water the soil thoroughly to settle it around the corms and initiate rooting. After this initial watering, maintain only light moisture, avoiding saturation until the foliage begins to actively grow. This practice prevents the dormant corms from rotting before they sprout.