Overview

Freesia 'Gold River' is a clump forming bulbs in the genus Freesia, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Freesia 'Gold River' grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H2. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, mediterranean climate plants, patio and container plants, conservatory and greenhouse, cut flowers, flower borders and beds and wall side borders.

About

Freesia 'Gold River' is a clump-forming bulb in the Iridaceae valued for its spring flowering. It develops deciduous, narrow leaves before producing spikes of flowers between April and June. It prefers full sun on neutral, well-drained loam in a south-facing, sheltered spot.

About the genus

Freesia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1866 by Christian Friedrich Ecklon (1886) and named after the German botanist and medical practitioner, Friedrich Freese (1795–1876). It is native to the eastern side of southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa, most species being found in Cape Provinces. Species of the former genus Anomatheca are now included in Freesia.

Wikipedia contributors, "Freesia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Freesia

In the garden

A clump-forming bulb of the iris family, Freesia 'Gold River' produces its seasonal display from April to June and carries deciduous foliage for the rest of the year. The species habit suits grouped planting where a concentrated spring show is required rather than year-round foliage cover. Plant in a south-facing, sheltered position in full sun with neutral, well-drained loam; good drainage is essential because the corms do not tolerate permanently wet soil. Hardiness is H2 — half-hardy — so in colder parts of the UK provide winter protection or grow under glass; it also responds well in containers where frost can be avoided. Keep soil moisture moderate during growth and reduce watering after flowering as the leaves die back. Freesia 'Gold River' fits city courtyards, patios and containers, conservatories and greenhouse displays, gravel or Mediterranean-style beds, and wall-side borders; it also makes attractive cut flowers. Expect the display to begin in April and finish by June, after which the foliage will die back and the planting will rest until the next season.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Freesia

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H2

Plant details

Freesia 'Gold River' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Bulbs

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Conservatory and greenhouse, Cut flowers, Flower borders and beds, Wall side borders

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Freesia 'Gold River'

Propagation

Corm offsets, Seed

Pest resistance

Susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions