Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba
(c) Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Nicola van Berkel · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba is a non-native California perennial in the Iridaceae family, recognized by South African genus occasionally escaping cultivation in coastal California.
White freesia is a naturalized perennial found in central coastal California, including San Francisco Bay, San Diego, and central coastal regions in disturbed urban and coastal areas at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white flowers with purple outer petals, strongly scented and up to 5 centimeters long with an elegant shape featuring one erect upper lobe and three spreading lower lobes. Growing with branched stems generally less than 20 centimeters tall, it displays slender, upright growth. Its linear leaves are 5 to 15 centimeters long, about 5 to 10 millimeters wide, with a prominent midvein running along their length. Some flowers feature a distinctive yellow accent on the lower petal, adding subtle visual interest to the delicate blooms.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: South African genus occasionally escaping cultivation in coastal California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed urban, coastal areas
Elevation: < 50 m
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Ixia: Freesia has strongly fragrant, 2-lipped (bilateral) flowers on a bent, one-sided spike; Ixia has radially symmetric star-like flowers on a slender straight spike and little scent.; vs Sparaxis: Freesia flowers are white (purple-backed) and sweet-scented with a curved tube; Sparaxis flowers are boldly bicolored (often orange-red with a yellow center) with papery, brown-streaked bracts.; vs Gladiolus: Freesia is a small plant under 20 cm with the flower spike bent nearly horizontal; Gladiolus is tall with a large erect one-sided spike of big funnel flowers.; vs Crocosmia: Freesia is short with pale, fragrant flowers; Crocosmia and Chasmanthe are tall clumping plants with red-orange tubular flowers and no fragrance.; vs Watsonia: Freesia is a low, branched, sweet-scented waif; Watsonia is a robust plant to 1.5 m with many pink flowers and heavily thickened leaf margins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba native to California?
No. Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba bloom?
Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba belong to?
Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba is in the Iridaceae family, genus Freesia.
What habitat does Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba grow in?
Freesia leichtlinii subsp. alba grows in Uncommon. Disturbed urban, coastal areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.