Crocus Sativus (Saffron crocus)
During a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in late September I bought 5 Crocus Sativus (Saffron crocus) bulbs. Yesterday they began blooming.
Crocus Sativus (Saffron crocus)
The 3 bright red-orange stigmas of the Saffron crocus can be harvested, dried and used in cooking.
pbmGarden 
Fantastic – will you be using your stigmas in your cooking?
I may try saving the stigmas Pauline. Honestly am not a big fan of saffron flavor but the idea is intriguing.
Beautiful.
Thanks Brian. I’m excited they bloomed.
They are lovely Susie, I can imagine your delight!
I am excited Julie. Blooms this time of year can do that.
How lovely Susie that they have already bloomed…they are a delight to see in later fall.
Donna, I read the saffron crocus don’t always bloom the first year so glad mine did. Hope they will multiply as promised.
Wow, is this Saffron crocus a type of grass? It grow so close to the ground, really special 🙂
Ben, they’re corms but the leaves do look like grass. The leaves supposedly persist for a couple of months before dying back.
The foliage stays for ages; I was going to move some of mine last year and waited and waited until the foliage died back but in the end I left it too long; I will move them this year ‘in the green’.
So, so lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks John.
Saffron is a very strong flavour; it is probably good that it costs more than gold so that there is less temptation to use too much. I love the flavour with shellfish.
Christina, I’ve long admired your saffron crocus so am doubly please to see these flower. Thanks for the tip about using saffron with shellfish. A quick web search revealed lots of recipes with that combination that I wouldn’t have thought of, including scallops which I know you love.
Beautiful. It’s lovely when a new purchase comes good so quickly.
Yes, it’s a good reward for not tarrying too long before I planted the crocus. The sign at the market urged, “Plant NOW!” but even then I waited another week or two.
Well done for getting flowers – I had leaves only for two years and this year nothing at all! They are lovely though, so might try again in a different place.
Too bad your crocuses haven’t bloomed, but yes, do try them again. They’re adorable.
Beautiful! I’ve heard that this crocus needs very particular conditions.
Wow, must purely be beginner’s luck that mine bloomed. I did raise the planting area to improve drainage, so maybe that helped.
Stunning blooms! I understand Saffron is quite expensive. Maybe you could sell it? 😉
Beth, you’re right, saffron is expensive. Let’s see, 3 threads of saffron, 5 bulbs…business plan may need a lot of work!
Aren’t they such fabulous plants, love the photos you shared.
Yes, I’ve wanted to try these for years and am not disappointed.
They are cultivated in the part of the Swiss Alps where I lived but I personally didn’t have any luck with them. Suppose I didn’t plant them in the best spot. Glad they grow for you 🙂
The bright saffron threads are stunning against the lavender petals.
Aren’t those colors great in combination, Ricki?
Your saffron are probably happier than mine since it’s warmer down there and they can stretch their roots out. Next year you will have more of them that you can harvest and make tea with.
Unfortunately we had several below freezing nights just after the saffron started blooming. But yes, next year!