Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Herbaceous Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Africa, Kenya, South Africa
Southern Africa
Types
Freesia
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Number of Varieties
1520
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Tropical regions, Wet forest
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-109-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-9
Sunset Zone
-
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
50.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
40.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Yellow, Brown
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From bulbs
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
High
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Needs a lot of moisture in the growing season, Stop watering completely once the plant becomes dormant
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand, Well drained
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Indirect sunlight, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut away fading foliage, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
20-20-20 amount, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Potash
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used for fragrance
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Flower borders, Screening
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
Freesia refracta
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Freesia
Carissia
In Hindi
Freesia
Carissa
In German
Freesie
carissa
In French
Freesia
carissa
In Spanish
fresia
carissa
In Greek
freesia
carissa
In Portuguese
freesia
carissa
In Polish
frezja
carissa
In Latin
Freesia
carissa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Gentianales
Family
Iridaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Freesia
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Carisseae
Subfamily
Ixioideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
16100
1
27800
👆🏻