freesia

[ free-zhee-uh, -zee-uh, -zhuh ]

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Freesia, of the iris family, native to southern Africa, having fragrant white, yellow, or sometimes rose-colored, tubular flowers.

freesia

/ ˈfriːzɪə; ˈfriːʒə /

noun

1. any iridaceous plant of the genus Freesia, of southern Africa, cultivated for their white, yellow, or pink tubular fragrant flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of freesia¹

1880–85; < New Latin; named after E. M. Fries (1794–1878), Swedish botanist; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of freesia¹

C19: New Latin, named after F. H. T. Freese (died 1876), German physician

Example Sentences

Down the center, he placed stoneware candelabras he bought in Amsterdam and low vases filled with ranunculus, freesia and juniper.

From Seattle Times

The effusion of bulb flowers of the East and Midwest — the daffodils, hyacinth, freesia, tulips — need a cold hibernation to generate the scented show they put on.

From Los Angeles Times

Her coffin was placed on the Lincoln catafalque, built for President Abraham Lincoln’s coffin in 1865, and surrounded by an arrangement of the justice’s favorite flowers, including white hydrangea, freesia and white tea roses.

From Washington Post

“A man took me by surprise when he chose a very floral, jasmine and freesia scent,” she says.

From The Guardian

A bouquet of white freesia was tossed, and caught.

From New York Times