Crocus sativus Seeds | Saffron Safflower Dried
LATIN NAME: Crocus sativus
COMMON NAME: Saffron Crocus
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Saffron Crocus, Crocus sativus is a hardy, perennial in the iris family. Saffron crocus kindles violet, three-lobed flowers among grassy leaves, fine, red stigmas hidden in flower centres, and the whole clump carries the fine, bright look of the autumn border. It is a plant of open, sunny, light, gritty, well-drained ground. When it flowers, local bees and other insects make good use of it. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Saffron is simultaneously the world’s most expensive spice and one of the better-evidenced botanicals in psychiatry. Quality is graded under ISO 3632 by colorimetric measurement of crocin (colour), picrocrocin (taste) and safranal (aroma), the same carotenoid-derived compounds held responsible for its pharmacology. Meta-analyses of randomised trials in mild-to-moderate depression — mostly using 30 mg of stigma extract daily for six to twelve weeks — report efficacy comparable to fluoxetine, imipramine and citalopram and clearly superior to placebo, albeit with small samples and a preponderance of studies from one research region. Culinary doses are safe; single doses above about 5 g are toxic and doses of 20 g or more can be dangerous.
Within the iris family, Crocus sativus is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. In the laboratory and trial ground alike, it serves as workable material for propagation research and line selection.
Uses & Benefits
Saffron Crocus works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. Saffron crocus is a bright, useful plant of autumn border and study collection. It is a bright, useful plant of open, sunny, light, gritty, well-drained garden.Sow Saffron seeds in a fine, gritty loam kept barely moist. Once settled, it thrives on neglect more than on fussing.
Saffron, the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, is the world’s most precious spice, and its crocin and safranal pigments have human-trial support for mood and eye health. It takes roughly 150 flowers to make a single gram, which is why growing your own is such a pleasure.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Saffron Crocus under ordinary good conditions. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
It forms a hardy, perennial, which makes spacing and siting straightforward. It tolerates the sort of small mistakes every beginner makes.
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