1 named cultivar

‘Saffron Fall’Saffron Crocus

bulb corm tuber

Saffron Crocus

$44.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Crocus sativus, saffron crocus, is an autumn-flowering corm six to ten inches high. Five to eleven narrow upright leaves emerge before or with the flowers, and lilac-purple saucer-shaped blooms open in autumn, each carrying three long branched red stigmas — the saffron itself — above golden anthers.

It is a sterile cultivated plant that sets no seed and exists only because people have propagated its corms for millennia. The crop is the three red stigmas from each flower, picked by hand on the morning they open, which is why saffron is the most expensive spice by weight: roughly 150 flowers make a single gram dried.

Uses & Benefits:

Lilac-purple autumn flowers with vivid red stigmas, at a season when few bulbs are out.

The source of saffron, the most valuable spice by weight, harvested by hand from each flower.

Sterile and seed-free, so it spreads only by corm division and never escapes.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Bulb Corm Tuber

Height

8 inches

Width

3 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

6, 7, 8

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Sterile cultigen of southwest Asian origin

Toxicity

Stigmas edible as saffron; other parts not eaten

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Antique Rose Emporium

In Stock$44.95

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Planting

How to Grow

Plant corms in late summer, four inches deep.
Choose full sun and sharply drained soil.
Expect flowers in autumn, weeks after planting.
Pick the red stigmas on the morning flowers open.
Dry the stigmas immediately and store airtight.
Lift and divide congested corms every few years.

Pro Tip

Pick the stigmas the morning each flower opens — leave it a day and the quality drops sharply.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant corms in late summer 🍂
Give it sharp drainage and sun ☀️
Pick stigmas the morning they open 🌅
Dry and store them airtight 🫙

Don't

Plant it in wet or heavy soil ❌
Expect it to set seed ❌
Leave the stigmas beyond a day ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Harvest
Plant

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Autumn-flowering bulb in a sunny bedHerb and spice gardenContainers and raised beds

Companion Plants

Thyme SedumAutumn Crocus DianthusBlue Fescue

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Saffron Crocus questions

What zones can Saffron Crocus grow in?

Saffron Crocus is hardy in USDA Zones 6–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Saffron Crocus deer resistant?

Yes — Saffron Crocus is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Saffron Crocus bloom?

Saffron Crocus typically blooms in fall through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Saffron Crocus need full sun?

Saffron Crocus does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Saffron Crocus drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Saffron Crocus handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.