Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus)
Care, watering, light and tips for Saffron crocus on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Iridaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Saffron crocus
Crocus sativus, commonly known as saffron, is a botanical gem prized for its deep red stigmas, the source of the world's most expensive spice. This small, elegant autumn-flowering plant produces delicate lilac-colored blooms with purple veins, which beautifully contrast with its crimson stigmas. It is ideal for rock gardens, path borders, or pots, where its late blooming adds a unique splash of color to the garden.
Native range
Greece and Asia Minor
Care tips
It requires full sun and well-drained, sandy or loamy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Corms should be planted 10-15 cm deep and at a similar distance in summer, for autumn flowering. Watering should be moderate during growth and flowering, drastically reducing it once the leaves yellow; avoid waterlogging, as it is the most common mistake leading to corm rot.
How to save a dying Saffron crocus
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or brown, soft, droopy leaves, soft or moldy bulb, no flowering.
- First aid
- Remove bulb, clean soil, cut off rotten parts. Replant in dry, well-draining substrate.
- What kills it
- Overwatering, especially during dormancy. Also extreme cold or lack of direct sunlight.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if the bulb is not completely rotted. Key is quick action and drainage correction.