Saffron Crocus

A culinary specialty. Saffron spice is produced by harvesting and drying the stigma of the saffron crocus flower. Plants bloom in the fall, yielding multiple lavender blooms with striking red thread-like stigmas. Sweetly fragrant blooms closely resemble spring-flowering crocus and are a welcome source of color in autumn gardens. Growing Saffron Crocus is an economical way to obtain saffron spice, which can be expensive when store-bought. Perennial in Zones 5–8 but known to perennialize in Zone 4. Saffron crocus is sensitive to photoperiod and can only grow between latitudes 30° and 50°. Plants grow from bulb-like root structures, called corms, and are planted in early fall. You can expect each corm to produce 2 to 4 flowers and each flower to produce 3 stigmas (threads of saffron). To harvest, hand-pick flowers before they are fully open. While still fresh, separate the stigmas from the flowers. Air-dry and store. Native to Mediterranean climates. 9 cm+ bulb size 1 unit = 1 bulbSpecs:Plant Height: 4–6" flowers; 4–10" foliage