Stages of Freesia Growth

Corm to Shoots

• Plant freesia corms in the spring for blooms in the summer. The corm then sends out roots from one end and shoots from the other. The shoots make their way toward the light and by late spring you will see a few small leaves. Underground, the corm is losing energy as the leaves grow.

Shoots to Leafy Plant

• As the freesia grows, it puts on more leaves, deeper roots and sends out a few side shoots underground. These side shoots are part of the plant's stem and will develop new corms. The old corm begins to wither as the leaves take over providing energy for the plant, and the roots do the job of absorbing nutrients from the soil.

Corm Development

• Once the freesia has put on all its leaves for the year, the shoots begin to develop into new corms. These new corms are smaller than the original corm, but will continue to grow in size as the leaves continue to produce extra energy. These new corms also grow a special kind of root that acts to pull the new corms deeper into the ground. This protects them from digging animals, and because the deeper soil has a more even temperature than surface soil, it protects the corms during temperature changes.

Flowering

• When conditions are right, the freesia plant produces a stalk of blooming flowers. These flowers attract birds and insects for pollination. If left on the plant, the flowers may produce tiny seeds. Freesia can be grown from these seeds, but it its more common to grow freesia from corms divided off the parent plant.

Preparing for Winter

• Whether or not the flowers go to seed, they eventually fade. The flower stalk can be cut down if you wish, but the leaves should remain on the plant. Until they turn brown, the leaves continue to provide energy for the new corms. Cutting the leaves too soon results in corms that grow weak flowers or no flowers at all. With their store of energy to get through the winter, the corms go dormant until warm spring weather arrives to start the process again.