Saffron Crocus Information

History

• Saffron has been used for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians offered it to their gods during the reign of Cleopatra, and Greek and Arab civilizations valued it for its medicinal properties. Saffron was worth its physical weight in gold during the Renaissance, according to the Verdu Canto Saffron Spain website.

Fun Facts

• The saffron crocus flower is a sterile hybrid that does not produce seeds or grow in the wild. The bulbs must be uprooted, separated and replanted by hand. According to a 2009 report by James M. Stephens at the University of Florida IFAS extension, each saffron blossom only produces three stigmas. It takes approximately 210,000 stigmas to make 1 lb. of saffron.

Growing and Harvesting

• The Brooklyn Botanic Garden website suggests planting saffron crocus bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep in rich, well-drained soil. Pick the stigmas by hand as soon as the flower blooms and dry them in the sun or by artificial heat. They should be stored in a tightly covered container out of direct sunlight.