Saffron Crocus Bulbs
Saffron Crocus
Details
Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus) 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. 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!| SKU | HFBM112 |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Saffron Crocus |
| Botanical Name | Crocus sativus |
| Zones | 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| Ships As | Bulb, Rhizome, Tuber |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun, Morning Sun & Afternoon Shade |
| Flower Color | Purple |
| Mature Height | 4" tall |
| Bulb Size | 9 cm |
| Bulb Spacing | 12 bulbs per sq. ft. |
| Planting Depth | Plant 2-4" deep |
| Bloom Time | Mid to late fall |
| Planting Time | Fall |
| Soil Type | Sandy Soil, Average Soil, Drought/Dry Soil, Well-Drained Soil |
| Soil Moisture | Average |
| Amount of Rain | 10 to 20", 20 to 30" |
| Advantages | Good for Containers, Edible, Multiplies / Naturalizes |
| Ideal Region | Suitable Above 7000 ft, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West, Pacific Northwest |
| Ships to Hawaii, Alaska & Canada | No |
Planting Guides
Tips on Growing Fall Planted Flower Bulbs
When you receive your spring bulbs (tulips, da ffodils, etc.) keep them in a dry, dark, cool place until ready to plant. They need air circulation so they will not collect moisture and rot. Planting times can vary from early October in the North to mid-to-late November in the southern regions. A good rule of thumb is to plant them about 6 weeks before the ground is frozen or after the first hard freeze. For more information and a planting depth illustration, see pages 14-16 of our Planting Guide.
Soil Preparation for Bulbs
A compost enriched, well-drained soil is best. Incorporate a good quality organic compost as needed. Yum Yum Mix® is recommended as an excellent source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium needed for strong plants and healthy roots. Mix a small amount into the bottom of the hole before planting your bulbs.
Many bulbs prefer full sun exposure. However, Muscaria, Allium, Galanthus, Hyacinthoides, Scilla and many Da ffodils will tolerate partial shade and bloom well. Pink daff odils will hold their color longer if planted in dappled shade or morning sun/afternoon shade.
After planting, add a top dressing of compost or other organic material and water in thoroughly. If your winter is dry, water every three to four weeks throughout the winter and add more mulch if necessary.
Protect your Bulbs
Apply Chase Mole and Gopher Repellent to the surface of the ground to protect bulbs from these burrowing mammals. As bulbs sprout, use our Deer O ff Repellent to prevent deer and rabbits from browsing your spring blooms.
After your Bulbs have Bloomed
Once your bulbs have bloomed, allow the bulb foliage to brown and fade naturally, since the leaves are feeding the bulb in the ground. Removal of foliage weakens the bulb and leads to fewer blooms the following year. Planting your bulbs amongst your perennials is one way to conceal the dying bulb foliage. The perennials begin to grow and fill out as the bulb foliage dies back. The perennials will then provide foliage and color in the garden from late spring through the summer and into fall. Regular fertilization with balanced organic or natural fertilizer and a re-application of mulch each fall will insure more and more beautiful spring bulb blooms for many years!
View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.
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by PowerReviews(based on 1 review)
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Reviewed by 1 customer
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Pros
- Accurate Instructions
- Attractive
- Blooms late fall
- Hardy
- Healthy
- Makes saffron!
Cons
Best Uses
- Outdoors
- Patio
- Pool Area
Comments about High Country Gardens Saffron Crocus Bulbs:
Truly incredible flower with very unique bloomtime of late fall.
The colors are breathtaking!
They make a wonderful last supper for end of season pollinators.
I leave the blade like leaves resembling grass year round. To remind me where they are planted and also because I enjoy their look. The long blades arch gracefully back to the ground. They are not spiky, but gracefully bending. they remind me of beargrass found in the Rocky Mountains.
This took much longer than I was expecting to come to fruition, two months when I was looking for them after just a "few weeks" as promised in the listing. Now that I know to adjust my expectations, I don't worry, I just enjoy these beauties! Every single bulb produced for me.
- Primary use:
- Personal
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Crickets Meyeres
(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)
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Q & A
Suggested Companion Plants:
USDA Hardiness Planting Zones
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
- If the coldest winter temperature expected in your area is -15°F (zone 5) then any plants rated zones 3-5 will survive the winter temperatures in your area.
- If you live in very warm winter areas (zones 9-11) plants with zones 3-4 ratings are not recommended. The lack of freezing winter temperatures do not provide a time for winter dormancy (rest).
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