Saffron, Holy (Crocus sativus) potted plant, organic

These are potted plants.  Depending on when they are purchased, they will most likely be in vegetative stage (winter and early spring) or dormancy (spring through summer).  From dormancy they flower briefly in the late fall and then make a tuft of leaves once again.

Family: Iris (Iridaceae)

Hardy to Zones 6 to 9

(Zang Hong Hua) Perennial bulbous plant flowering to 6 inches, native to Southern Europe, Asia Minor and Iran.  Blooming in Oct, the flowers are purple, cupping the long orange-red stigmas–the spice. Plant prefers rich, sandy, well-drained soil in the part shade or sun.

Source of the enticing spice “saffron.” Just a few threads will impart a lovely color to rice and other dishes, lending a delicious taste and fragrance.  Traditional uses (always very low dosage):  Stomachic, antidepressant, oral cleanser, sedative and analgesic. Saffron water is often used in ceremonies to cleanse and make ready for empowerment. As a dye plant, produces the golden yellow color associated with the robes of spiritual adepts.

Here’s a link to a planta-med publication that just came out showing saffron to be as effective as commonly prescribed antidepressants in treatment of mild to moderate depression https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/a-0660-9565

Cultivation:  Depot plant on receipt and replant in a sunny, well-drained position, with the bulb about 4 inches below the surface.   The plant may also be transplanted to a larger pot, and planting in 1-gallon pots is a good way to assure success while increasing the size and number of bulbs in short order.  This technique also protects the bulbs from predation by ground squirrels or gophers.  Saffron can also be gainfully grown in raised beds protected by hardware cloth underneath.  The soil used to fill the beds should be sandy yet rich, kept well-weeded and watered infrequently.

Potted plant, certified organically grown