Saffron Crocus
Crocus sativus
The world's most expensive spice, grown from your garden. Saffron corms produce purple flowers with precious red stigmas. A rare and rewarding grow.
medium
Full Sun (6+ hours)
Low — dry summer dormancy required
Flowers in autumn, 6-8 weeks after planting corms
How to Grow
Plant corms 10cm deep and 10cm apart in late summer (July-August). Saffron needs hot, dry summers and cool autumns. Each flower produces 3 red stigmas — harvest with tweezers in the morning. Divide corms every 3-4 years when they multiply.
Growth Phases
Planting (1 day)
Corms planted 10cm deep in late summer
Root Development (4-6 weeks)
Roots grow below while dormant above
Sprouting (1-2 weeks)
Grass-like green leaves emerge
Flowering (2-3 weeks)
Purple crocus flowers bloom — harvest stigmas!
Dormancy (6-8 months)
Leaves die back, corms rest until next year
Care Tips
- •Grows from corms, not seeds
- •Each flower has only 3 saffron threads
- •You need 75+ flowers for 1 gram of saffron
- •Corms multiply each year — your crop grows over time
Companion Plants
Community Interest
Real-time — updates when others show interest