Crocus sativus. Perennial. Open Pollinated. The plant produces high yields of saffron, the world's most expensive spice. The plant has violet-purple flowers with brilliant orange-red stigmas that are the source of the aromatic culinary spice. Each flower yields three red stigmas (the saffron threads). It takes 150,000 orange-red stigmas to make one pound of the spice, which is why it's so expensive. Gourmet Chefs around the world use it. You don't need to purchase this expensive spice again! Grow your own plants for home use or for restaurant use. The lovely lavender blossoms in fall are an added bonus to your garden. Planted in the fall, it bears lovely lavender flowers the following autumn. Order at least 5 to 10 bulbs to produce enough spice for one recipe. Plant 100 bulbs to produce enough spice for the entire year. Suitable for containers, patios, borders/ rock gardens, window boxes, square-foot gardening, and small gardens. A variety from Greece.
Planting Instructions: Unpack and plant immediately. Plant bulbs 4 - 6" deep and 6" apart in a location in the garden sheltered from the wind.
Soil Facts: Requires well-prepared soil. Add sand and compost as needed if the soil is heavy and lacking organic matter. Use general-purpose fertilizer when preparing the soil. Mulch well the first winter. Clean straw and dead leaves make good mulch. In zones 5 or colder, plant in pots and bury them in the garden. Before winter arrives and the first freeze, remove pots from the garden and place them in the cellar to protect them from freezing temperatures.
Harvesting: Use the stigmas of the flowers for saffron spice. The stigmas are the three bright orange appendages attached to the center of the flower. Dry the stigmas in an airy spot away from direct sunlight. When the stigmas crumble easily when crushed, they are adequately dried for storage. Store in a cool dark place in airtight containers.
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