Freesias are very popular garden plants, grown for their often strongly scented flowers. The most commonly cultivated species is F. refracta, which was crossed with F. leichtlinii in the 19th century. Numerous cultivars have been bred from these species and the pink- and yellow-flowered forms of F. corymbosa. Modern tetraploid cultivars have flowers ranging from white to yellow, pink, red and blue-mauve. They are widely cultivated and readily increased from seed. Due to their specific and pleasing scent, they are often used in hand creams, shampoos, candles, etc.
When you dug up the freesia did you let the foliage turn yellow allowing the corms to ripen? If not, the new corms might not have developed enough strength to bloom again. After blooming, the corms eventually die back, this takes 4-6 wks. and then they go dormant for 3-4 mo. This same method has to be duplicated when planting in a container. To bloom freesias also require lots of sunlight and night temp. between 55-60 and day temps of 10 degrees higher which may not happen indoors
Hi Mary Freesias are hardy in So. Ca.,therefore you can leave them in the ground. You dona’t need to dig them up. Be sure to let the foliage die back naturally so that they can form a new corm. Keep the area that the corms are in dry during the dormant period (Summer). If thato’s a problem dig them up and store them in a cool, dry place for the summer and replant in fall.
Hi Connie Dallas is a hardiness zone 8a. Freesias are hardy in zone 9-10. They may survive in the ground, if you mulch them over the winter and plant them in a protected area. Otherwise after the leaves have died back, dig them up and store in a cool dry place and plant outdoors in late winter after danger of frost has passed. Freesia is a native of So. Africa. They need a hot, dry summer for dormancy(3-4mo.) and cool, wet winter (45-60F) to start growing again.
