freesia

American  

[free-zhee-uh, -zee-uh, -zhuh] / ˈfri ʒi ə, -zi ə, -ʒə /

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 British  

/ ˈfriːzɪə, ˈfriːʒə /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of freesia

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

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 • Dec. 13, 2022

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 • Mar. 29, 2022

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 • Sep. 23, 2020

A vase of pink freesia rests at the base of a small altar to the Buddha.

From Washington Times • Dec. 19, 2015

Their hair smelled of freesia, their skin of vanilla.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray