BOTANICAL NAME: Crocus sativus
COMMON NAMES: Saffron Crocus; fan hong hua (Chinese); Safran (French, German); ya faran (Thai); zafferano (Italian)
FAMILY: Iris family
ORIGIN: It is thought to have originated in Southern Europe and Central Asia.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Saffron Crocus is a pretty bulb with purple flowers, each with three stigmas. It has been grown as a spice and a dye since ancient times. The name is derived from zafaran, the Arabian word for yellow. It is famous as an ingredient in paella, bouillabaisse and risotto. It is a perennial bulb to 40 cm high and summer dormant. It requires a cold winter with a few frosts to flower successfully. Older, larger bulbs, 5 years or more, can produce up to 15 flowers before they subdivide into multiple daughter corms.
ECOLOGY
Position: Requires full sun, will not grow in shade.
Soil Type: Deep, rich, very well-drained, pH 6.5; compost and well-rotted manures are beneficial.
PLANTING DETAILS
Recommended planting time: Autumn, early spring. It does best in temperate areas and dry Mediterranean conditions (VIC, SA, drier areas of NSW). It prefers areas with winter / spring rain and dry summers. It is unlikely to be successful in humid, subtropical areas, such as coastal zones north of Sydney and QLD but if you want to give it a try, plant it in a terracotta pot that can be kept fairly dry; be careful not to over-water. It is unsuitable for tropical areas.
Planting depth: Plant with 5 cm of soil covering the bulbs
Plant spacing: Space bulbs 15 cm apart
Growing details: Whilst the bulbs are actively growing keep the soil moist; once dormant, allow the soil to dry out.
HARVEST
Flowering time is autumn. Stigmas must be harvested straight after the flowers open; each flower will only produce 3 stigmas and each saffron crocus bulb will only produce 1 flower. The flower stigmas are the world's costliest spice. About 50 - 60 saffron flowers are required to produce about 1 tablespoon of saffron spice. After harvesting, dry the stigmas in a dry, sheltered spot for 3-5 days; store in an airtight container.
After flowering care: Simply plant and leave - these bulbs will easily naturalise in the garden.
