Crocus sativus L.

A corm with grass-like leaves. It keeps growing from year to year. Under the ground it has bulb like corms. It grows 15-23 cm high. The leaves are long and grey-green like the leaves of chives. The flowers are small and mauve. The lily like flowers have stigmas which are bright orange. Each flower has 3 stigmas that are connected to the base of the flower by a fine pale thread. The flower stalks are leafless and the flower stalks occur singly. The dried stigmas are 10-18 mm long and dark red and thin. They are needle like at one end and trumpet shaped at the other.

A temperate plant. They require sun and good drainage. It needs a pH of 7. It is best in a good sandy loam. It is resistant to frost and drought. It suits hardiness zones 6-8. In Yunnan.

CAUTION: It is important to dry the flowers well before using for flavouring. Saffron is poisonous. A safe dose should not exceed 1 g per day. The stigmas or parts of the flower that catch pollen are used as a spice. They are used to colour and flavour sauces, creams, biscuits, preserves, liqueurs, curries, rice dishes, and other foods. The roots are eaten roasted. The leaves are used as a flavouring.

It is grown from vegetative parts. Being a triploid plant it is sterile. Plant 3-15 cm deep and 10 cm apart. It won't flower in areas with wet cloudy summers.