Flowers 2-8, erect, strongly sweet-scented; spring. Perianth cream to pale yellow; tube 2-3 cm long; segments unequal, the upper one 15-18 mm long, hooded, the lower three 14-16 mm long, downcurved, marked deep yellow-orange.
Cape Province.
Hybrids between F. alba and F. leichtlinii are commonly sold as F. refracta; the true F. refracta (Jacq.) Klatt is not grown in Australian gardens. This hybrid invades native vegetation, where the F2 and later generations may resemble either parent species or anything in between. Selections from this hybrid swarm include 'Burtonii' and 'Frankston', both with fragrant white flowers marked with yellow. Modern hybrid freesias are derived from the above species plus the pink- and yellow flowered forms of F. corymbosa (Burm. f.) N.E. Br. Most of the named cultivars are polyploids with larger flowers than these species but often lacking their strong scent.
Named clones in specific colours include:
'AMADEUS' Flowers double, blue-mauve, lighter in throat.
'ATTICA' Flowers single, pure white.
'HIMALAYA' Flowers large full double, yellow.
'KAYAK' Flowers single yellow.
'KELLY' Flowers large white single.
'ROSSINI' Flowers semi-double pink-red shading to yellow throat.
'SANDRA' Flowers single, pink with very pale yellow throat.
'TEQUILA SUNRISE' Flowers single, orange shading to pink with darker veins.
'TSARINA' Flowers single, white with some yellow at base of lobes.
'VULCANO' Flowers large single, bright red with yellow throat.
'YVONNE' Flowers full double, golden yellow.
Named lines, each in mixed colours of red, pink, white, yellow and blue-mauve, include:
'BERGUNDEN' Flowers single with pale centres.
'FANTASIA' Flowers double.
IMPERIAL MIXED Flowers single.
'ROYAL CROWN' Flowers single.
Source: (2005). Iridaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.