The tender and friendly appearance of these blooms, peering up from underground corms just as the growing season comes to an end, belies an exquisite secret: within their petals lies the world's most expensive spice. An even more exciting secret: you can grow it easily at home!
Dormant over the summer, Saffron Crocus will send up grassy foliage and striking, lightly-veined, soft purple blossoms in early fall—the opposite of the more familiar spring-flowering crocuses. Among its golden stamens, the plants yield 3 bright red stigmas per flower. These are the saffron threads. To enjoy, gently harvest (tweezers can be helpful), dry, and store in a small container.
This variety is low-growing (just 4” tall) and will usually bloom within 5-10 weeks of planting (although occasional corms may not bloom until the second year).
