Family: Iridaceae Form: Herb Origin: This is a hybrid raised in Italy from parents which originated in winter rainfall regions of South Africa. Weed Type(s): Naturalised, Garden Escape, Environmental Weed

Notes: Freesias are small perennial herbs with leaves arranged in a fan-like iris. They range in height from 100 to 300mm. The flowers may be single or double and scarcely to sweetly scented.

Although species of Freesia were cultivated in Europe in the mid 18th century, selective hybridisation did not start until the late 19th century. They are now grown in large numbers for the florist trade.

They are propagated from seed or bulb-like corms and may be grown in the garden or indoors in pots. After potted plants flower and die back they may sometimes be dumped with other garden refuse which aids their spread.

Freesia is a serious weed of coastal heath, Wandoo and Tuart woodland, granite rocks, from Gingin to Israelite Bay.

References:

Randall, R. P. (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. R. G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
Royal Horticultural Society (1992). Dictionary of Gardening. The Macmillan Press Limited, London.
Hussey, B. M. J., Keighery, G. J., Cousens, R. D., Dodd, J., and Lloyd, S. G. (1997). Western Weeds. Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Perth.
Keighery, G. J. (1994). An Annotated List of the Naturalised Vascular Plants of Western Australia. In (Burke, G. ed) Invasive Weeds and Regenerating Ecosystems in Western Australia, 1995 Conference Proceedings. Institute for Science and Technology Policy, Murdoch University, Perth.