Freesia, << FREE zhuh, >> is a group of plants with fragrant, colorful flowers. Native to South Africa, freesias are cultivated in greenhouses throughout the world. There are more than a dozen species (kinds). The plants have long, narrow leaves that grow from the base of the stem. The flowers are tube-shaped with six petals at the end. They are usually white or yellow, but they may also be shades of pink, red, blue, or purple. In cultivation, freesias may grow 18 inches (46 centimeters) high.
Freesias grow from a corm (bulblike stem). Gardeners plant the corm indoors in late summer. Freesias grow best in a cool greenhouse. The flowers appear in winter.
