Freesia originates from the Cape region of South Africa, where 16 wild species produce their sweetly scented, funnel-shaped flowers in shades running from white through yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple. The genus was named by the botanist C.F. Ecklon to honor Friedrich Freese, a German doctor and fellow plant enthusiast. In temperate gardens above zone 9, freesias are typically treated as annuals, grown from corms planted in autumn for late winter and spring bloom, then lifted and stored after the foliage dies back. They prefer cool conditions: warm days and warm nights push the flowers forward too quickly, reducing their display and fragrance.

At 1 to 1.5 feet tall, they work well in containers, cutting gardens, and the front edges of borders, and the cut flowers last unusually well in a vase. Plant corms about 2 inches deep in well-drained soil with good sun, and water regularly through the growing season without overwatering, which can cause corm rot. In zones 9 and 10, corms can remain in the ground year-round with good drainage. The range of colors within cultivars is extensive, including bi-colored and double forms, making freesias useful for coordinating with a specific palette rather than just planting in a general mix.