Practical
Plants

Crocus sativus

Saffron

a member of the Crocus genus in the family Iridaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Iridaceae
Genus
Crocus
Height
0.1 m
Spread
0.1 m
Fertility
Bees, Butterflies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Butterflies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is poisonous[12]. The plant is perfectly safe in normal usage but 5 - 10 grams of saffron has been known to cause death[23].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flower styles are commonly used as a flavouring and yellow colouring for various foods such as bread, soups, sauces, rice and puddings[10][21][24][3][12][19][20][9]. They are an essential ingredient of many traditional dishes such as paella, bouillabaisse, risotto milanese and various other Italian dishes[16]. The styles are extremely rich in riboflavin[2]. Water soluble[6]. Yields per plant are extremely low, about 4000 stigmas yield 25g of saffron[25]. Saffron is the world's most expensive spice, it takes 150,000 flowers and 400 hours work to produce 1 kilo of dried saffron[14]. About 25 kilos of styles can be harvested from a hectare of the plant[21]. Fortunately, only very small quantities of the herb are required to impart their colour and flavour to dishes[16]. Because of the cost, saffron is frequently adulterated with cheaper substitutes such as marigold flowers and safflower[16]. The flower styles are used as a tea substitute[9]. Root - cooked[9]. The corms are toxic to young animals[13] so this report of edibility should be treated with some caution[K].

Product or use
Colouring
Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Saffron is a famous medicinal herb with a long history of effective use, though it is little used at present because cheaper and more effective herbs are available[21][24][18]. The flower styles and stigmas are the parts used, but since these are very small and fiddly to harvest they are very expensive and consequently often adulterated by lesser products[24]. The styles and stigmas are anodyne, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, appetizer, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative and stimulant[21][24][12][7][8][13]. They are used as a diaphoretic for children, to treat chronic haemorrhages in the uterus of adults, to induce menstruation, treat period pains and calm indigestion and colic[21][18]. A dental analgesic is obtained from the stigmas[24]. The styles are harvested in the autumn when the plant is in flower and are dried for later use[21], they do not store well and should be used within 12 months[14]. This remedy should be used with caution[12], large doses can be narcotic[15] and quantities of 10g or more can cause an abortion[13].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The yellow dye obtained from the stigmas has been used for many centuries to colour cloth[21][24][3][12]. It is the favoured colouring for the cloth of Indian swamis who have renounced the material world. A blue or green dye is obtained from the petals[5].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
S. Europe - Greece to W. Asia.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild location[26].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - according to some reports this species is a sterile triploid and so does not produce fertile seed[26][14]. However, if seed is obtained then it is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. Stored seed can be sown in the spring in a cold frame[1]. Germination can take 1 - 6 months at 18°c[4]. Unless the seed has been sown too thickly, do not transplant the seedlings in their first year of growth, but give them regular liquid feeds to make sure they do not become deficient. Divide the small bulbs once the plants have died down, planting 2 - 3 bulbs per 8cm pot. Grow them on for another 2 years in a greenhouse or frame and plant them out into their permanent positions when dormant in late summer[K]. It takes 3 years for plants to flower from seed[16]. Division of the clumps in late summer after the plant has died down[1][21][3]. The bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained sandy or loamy soil that is free from clay[2]. Prefers a sunny position[14]. Grows well on calcareous soils[19] and on hot sheltered stony banks[22]. Plants are very frost hardy[2]. They also thrive in areas with poor summers, though they usually fail to flower in such conditions[14]. Plants produce less saffron when grown on rich soils[2]. They do not flower very freely in Britain[26]. Saffron has been cultivated for over 4,000 years for the edible dye obtained from the flower stigmas[1]. It was at one time commercially grown in Britain and the town Saffron Walden obtained its name because of this. There is at least one named form. 'Cashmirianus' comes from Kashmir and has large high quality corms. It yields about 27 kilos of rich orange stigmas per hectare[9]. When inhaled near to, the flowers have a delicate perfume[17]. Unlike most members of this genus, the flowers do not close of a night time or in dull weather[17]. The flowers are only produced after hot, dry summers[17]. Plants tend to move considerably from their original planting place because of their means of vegetative reproduction, it is therefore wise not to grow different species in close proximity[1]. Any planting out is best done in late spring or early summer[17]. Plants take 4 - 5 years to come into flowering from seed.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 9. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩

  5. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  7. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩

  8. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  12. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  15. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  16. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  18. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  19. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  20. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩

  21. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  22. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

  23. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  24. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  25. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩

  26. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

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