Saffron, Holy Saffron (Crocus sativus) bulbs, top size
$14.95 – $220.90
Family: Iris (Iridaceae)
Hardy to Zones 6 to 9
(Zang Hong Hua) Perennial cormous 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.
Cultivation: Plant these bulbs immediately on receipt for emergence in the fall. Usually flowers the second year, although the biggest bulbs may flower soon after planting. The bulb sends up a spear-like growth of green (see photo accompanying this write-up). Plant bulbs “tip up” in well drained soil, 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Depending on when the bulbs are purchased and in what season they are planted, emergence may take as little as 3 weeks or as long as 5 months. The bulbs work excellently in pots, and planting in 3-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.
What you will receive: Bag of dormant bulbs, 6-count, top size, as pictured in the hand.
Here’s a link to a planta-med publication 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
deenaclass (verified owner) –
I was a little nervous when I planted these immediately upon receiving (first week of August) and didn’t see anything happening for a while. I planted in a compost/sand mix in a big ceramic pot. We had a brutally hot August and unseasonably warm September though….and right as temps started to cool at night in late September, up they came! 🙂 Now, first week of October, every bulb has some above-ground growth and is looking good!
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Sam (verified owner) –
I got these bulbs from you last fall. They were obviously very healthy fresh bulbs. I dug in a bit of composted manure and sand to the planting site so it drains well and they are thriving. Thanks Richo.
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jasperdshide (verified owner) –
Every one of these bulbs came covered in healthy shoots and roots and all but one put out flowers right away!
I can’t stress enough how important it is not to overwater these guys, they seem to grow almost entirely on their own reserves until they’ve solidly established themselves. Until then any excess moisture will just rot the bulbs (ask me how I know!).
I’ve been doing a great deal of experimentation with the remaining bulbs and find that they’ll grow quite happily under virtually any conditions other than soggy soil. The corms establish themselves just fine at any depth I’ve tried – I’ve even got one half-buried in a 1/2” deep watering tray! It responded by establishing an entirely horizontal network of roots and grew just as well as the ones planted in the more traditional manner.
Anyway, great bulbs.
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aurorabotica –
Planted once I received on Oct 17 and three weeks later flowers bloomed! I was delighted as I had planted the bulbs following the exact instructions + soil mix, no water after the initial planting. I’m in Zone 9a, Nevada County, CA. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the bulbs come up (and of course taste the cured Saffron!) thank you!
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