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Saffron Crocus

Crocus sativus

$10.19
$10.19 $11.99
per Bag of 15
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ZONES  6-10 | Good to grow! Zone
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Crocus sativus (Saffron Crocus) blooms in autumn with lovely lilac petals enclosing three deep orange-red stigmas per flower. These are the source of what we know of as saffron, the world’s most expensive spice. Not only are these lovely crocuses a source of visual candy in the fall, but you can harvest the spice yourself and enjoy them in recipes throughout the year. Plant your saffron Crocus bulbs as soon as they arrive in late summer. They will sprout and grow in about 6-10 weeks (sometimes in as little as 4-6 weeks), putting on a colorful fall display. If there is danger of frost in your area, plant in containers that can be brought indoors.

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Description

Crocus sativus (Saffron Crocus) brightens up fall with soft lilac-violet flowers. Find a sunny, well-drained spot and plant them in a group as soon as you receive them in late August or September. If there is danger of frost in your area, plant in containers that can be brought indoors.

They will return the favor by sprouting quickly and showing off their pretty flowers. Inside the petals, you will find the deep orange-red stigmas (three per flower). This is the famed saffron spice. To harvest it for cooking, simply wait until your flowers are in full bloom on a sunny day. Pluck the stigmas with your fingers or tweezers and then gently dry them on a paper towel in a warm, dry place. Store them in an airtight container and the next time a recipe calls for saffron – voila!

Read our Growing Saffron Crocus article for more information on planting and harvesting Saffron Crocus.

Planting & Care

Growing Saffron Crocus: Basic Planting Steps

Step 1: Plant bulbs as soon as possible after receiving them.

Step 2: Decide on a planting style:

A: Plant crocus bulbs close together to form a cluster, this technique creates a full showy colorful display. Space 12 bulbs per square foot. 

B: For a more natural look, plant crocus bulbs speckled throughout a garden, or under trees. 

C: Plant in a container with well-draining soil.

Step 3: To plant, dig a hole 2-4” deep for each bulb. Plant bulb pointy side up. If the crocus bulbs are being planted in poor soil conditions, add a layer of organic compost, bone meal or Yum Yum Mix around the crocus bulbs. Back-fill with soil and water thoroughly to remove air pockets.

Read our Growing Saffron Crocus article for more information on planting and harvesting Saffron Crocus

Shipping

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As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade
  • Full Sun

Bloom Time

Mid to late fall

Advantages

  • Mass Plantings
  • Naturalizes
  • Easy To Grow
  • Cut Flowers
  • Fragrant
  • Container Planting
  • Small Spaces
  • Rock Gardens
  • Deer Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

4" tall

Bulb Spacing

12 bulbs per sq. ft.

Soil Type

  • Average Soil
  • Sandy Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Waterwise

Planting Depth

Plant 2-4" deep

Planting Time

  • Fall

Growing Zones

  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9
  • Zone 10

Neonicotinoid Free

Yes

Ships As

Bulb, Rhizome, Tuber

Can Send To PO Box

Yes
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Overall rating: 4.7272725 / 5 from 22 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["arrived","buy","bulbs","plant","crocus","blooms","flowers","corms"].

Review highlights

Reviews

Just coming up

"I planted them in a larger cluster, they have been slow to come up but most are showing. It is getting cold here so I put a floating row cover on them for now. I am keeping an eye on them."

— Dogpaws (4/5)

Very disappointed in this product

"I purchased 2 packs(24 bulbs) of this saffron crocus in 2023. I received nice sized bulbs & planted them in 2 pots right away! All 24 sprouted & gave wonderful blooms! In fact, the bulbs sprouted more than 1 bloom & after they died back I dug them up to split the bulbs & then replanted them adding 2 more pots. I then stored the pots in my insulated detached garage for the winter. In the spring, out they came, but come the fall, most sprouted foliage but I didn't get any blooms. I recently dug them all up only to find mostly nothing at all! There are 10 bulbs about 1/4"" in size. Unfortunately CS informed me the guarantee expired after a year, which is understood. However because of my experience I wouldn't recommend purchasing these bulbs."

— MC (1/5)

Super healthy and heavy corms! I will buy more next year

"I loved everything about this. I've never seen such healthy looking corms before. I had to share them with my friends and coworkers. Now I need to buy more for myself for next year. #sweepstakes"

— Mr T. (5/5)

Saffron crocus

"I grew saffron crocus last year and wanted to add more to my garden this year. The flowers are beautiful and the saffron tastes great. I added saffron to rice and was so delicious that I wanted more. The flower is a beautiful shade of purple. I am hopeful the saffron crocus I have planted will naturalize."

— SueZ (5/5)

These are wonderful!

"I'll using using saffron for cooking."

— Ksjhawkr (5/5)

So Happy

"I ordered two bags of these and I've got more coming up than the number of bulbs I received. That is an unexpected delight. It took about two months for them to start poking out of the soil so I was worried there for a minute, but now all is well. I've already harvested a small handful of saffron threads with many more to come. Very happy!"

— Lilly (5/5)

Garden goals ANS spice growing goals achieved!

"Healthy bulb arrived promptly, went from sowing to flower in 12 days, exquisite blooms much loved by late season pollinators. Have always wanted to grow my own saffron, the most expensive spice in the world. Goal achieved albeit for a small quantity of the three precious stigma per flower. Hopefully the will multiply in future seasons."

— Kaydee (5/5)

Definitely buying more next year

"I got these a lot later than I expected, based on when I ordered them, and had to get them in two days before the first hard frost; not what the instructions wanted. So, I went for it not expecting much, but I didn't have any place to store them. Much to my surprise, about two weeks later when I was in the yard playing with my dog, I saw a whole row of green, and a day later, big, purple blooms. They're basically indestructible, and I got a nice harvest of saffron. Definitely planting more next year."

— Mel (5/5)

i would buy this again

"I now have 36 strands of saffron. Great deal. I can't wait to use them."

— Hoser (5/5)

I would buy the Saffron Crocus again.

"I was able to harvest enough saffron for our needs. I just planted the bulbs in an elevated container and they grew well."

— Saffron J. (5/5)

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