Types of Freesia – Single or Double

Types of Freesia – Single or Double guide illustration

Choose freesia by the flower: a classic single funnel, a fuller double, or an unnamed hybrid pack. Color is a paint chip, not a different plant. Baboon flower is not a type on this shortlist.

Types of Freesia care summary diagram

Choose single or double first

FactorRecommendedAvoid
Classic one-sided funnelsSingle color packsPaying extra for ruffles you do not want
Fuller, extra petalsDouble packs — same cool calendar, stake earlyExpecting a different water recipe
Bag that only says freesiaThe hybrid baselineTreating a mixed bag as nine species
Shop extrasLatin Freesia on the tagBaboon flower (Babiana) as a type

Know your USDA hardiness zone before you pick a type of freesia that will take your winter. Type your ZIP below.

2023 USDA ZIP listings (PRISM / USDA-ARS). Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone · Official USDA map.

Single and double share the same cool-season calendar. You are paying for petal fill, not a different plant date. [1] Care after you choose lives on How to Grow Freesia.

  • Classic trumpet, one row of petals → single packs.
  • Fuller, extra petals → double packs. Stake early so they do not flop onto singles.
  • Bag that only says freesia → hybrid baseline. Same ritual.
  • Baboon flower / Babiana on the tag → walk. Related iris-family corm, not this genus.

Is double freesia a different plant from single?

Same cool-season job. Doubles have fuller petals. They still need draining pots and cool nights. Color is not a third genus.

Hybrid, single, and double packs

Hybrid baseline

hybrid Freesia is the fragrant one-sided raceme gardeners mean by “freesia,” usually × hybrida types rather than a wild species pick. [2]

Singles

Single White, Single Pink, Single Red, Single Blue, and Single Yellow are classic funnels for cutting and pots. White and yellow often carry the strongest scent in shop talk; treat that as a hint, not a guarantee.

Doubles

Double Pink, Double Blue, and Double Yellow are fuller petals on the same 1–2 inch depth and the same water-until-green calendar. Do not invent Double Red or Double White cards we do not hold.

What are types of freesia?

We hold a hybrid baseline plus single and double color packs. Babiana is not a type. Color is not a different species.

Not freesia — baboon flower and extra wild names

  • Baboon flower — usually Babiana, a related iris-family corm. Some sheets list “baboon flower” as a Freesia nickname. Shop the Latin before you pay.
  • Wild listicle names — F. laxa, F. refracta, and extra florist cultivars. We do not inventory them. [3] Grow extras like these hybrids, or shop Latin we hold.

Pink versus yellow is not a different watering recipe. [4] Heat-treated versus untreated is a calendar fork, not a type — ask the bag, then plant on How to Grow Freesia.

Is baboon flower the same as freesia?

No. Babiana is a lookalike corm, not a Freesia type. Shop the Latin before you pay.

Offsets live on How to Propagate Freesia. A tall pot pack lives on How to Repot Freesia.

Pick petal fill, then grow it on How to Grow Freesia.

FAQ

Should I buy Freesia laxa?

We do not card it. If the nursery only has laxa, that is not our hybrid packs. Shop Latin.

Is scent a type?

No. Scent varies. Pick single versus double first, then the color you want in the vase.

Can I mix singles and doubles in one pot?

Yes — they share the calendar. Stake early so floppy doubles do not smother singles.

Why don’t you list more doubles?

We do not invent extra catalog cards. Grow extras like these corms or shop their own names.

Are florist bunches a type?

Cut stems are not a catalog plant. Grow corms if you want another round.

Is yellow more fragrant than red?

Often, in shop talk — not a reason to change water. Smell the pack if you can.

References

  1. [1] NC State Extension - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/freesia/
  2. [2] Garden Design - https://www.gardendesign.com/bulbs/freesia.html
  3. [3] Gardener’s Path - https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-freesia/
  4. [4] Longfield Gardens - https://www.longfield-gardens.com/blogs/all-about-fall-planted-bulbs/all-about-freesia

This note is part of Freesia Guides.

More type comparisons by plant are gathered in Types of Plants Guides.

Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors

This guide is written for real gardens, not perfect climates. Results vary with site, season, and plant choice. We draw on multiple sources and practical experience; treat the steps here as honest guidance, not a promise that every bed will behave the same.