High Country Gardens
Saffron Crocus
Best choice for home gardeners wanting fresh culinary spices and blooms.
Brighten your autumn landscape with the Saffron Crocus, celebrated for its beautiful lilac-violet flowers that yield the world's most prized spice. Each bloom offers deep orange-red stigmas, perfect for harvesting on sunny days for culinary use. These bulbs are easy to grow, naturalize well, and are ideal for mass plantings, rock gardens, or containers. They sprout quickly, typically blooming 6-10 weeks after planting in late summer, adding unique flavor and visual appeal to your recipes year-round.
$8.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
16
/ 2782
#16 in Plant & Flower Bulbs
Price vs Category Average
-62%
Below average
Ships As
Bulb, Rhizome, Tuber
/ Bulb, Rhizome, Tuber
Who it's for
- Water-conscious gardeners living in arid or drought-prone climates
- Home cooks seeking cost-effective access to premium culinary spices
- Gardeners wanting to extend seasonal color into the autumn months
Who should skip it
- Gardeners with heavy, moisture-retaining clay soil conditions
- Busy gardeners lacking time for delicate, manual harvest tasks
- Small-space gardeners needing high-volume spice production from few plants
Performance breakdown
Culinary Utility
Direct access to premium, home-harvested saffron for gourmet kitchen applications.
Ease of Cultivation
Reliable growth patterns make these bulbs accessible for novice gardeners.
Landscape Versatility
Adapts seamlessly to rock gardens, containers, or expansive mass plantings.
Pest Resilience
Naturally deer-resistant foliage protects your investment from common garden visitors.
Seasonal Impact
Provides vibrant color when most other garden perennials have already faded.
Naturalization Potential
Establishes well over time to create a self-sustaining autumn display.
Key Specs
Ships As
Bulb, Rhizome, Tuber
Flower Bulb Size
9 cm
Mature Height
4 inches tall (10.16 cm)
Planting Depth
2-4 inches deep (5.08 cm - 10.16 cm)
Spacing
12 bulbs per sq. ft.
Growing Zones
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Neonicotinoid Free
Yes
Non-GMO
No
Features
- Source of edible saffron spice
- Deer resistant
- Fragrant flowers
- Suitable for containers
- Easy to grow and reliable
- Blooms in autumn
- Naturalizes well
- Quick sprouting time
What customers say
Customers rave about the Saffron Crocus, highlighting its exceptional quality and reliable success. Bulbs arrive healthy and are remarkably easy to grow, even for beginners. This ease of cultivation leads to a high quality saffron harvest, offering excellent value. Many find it a rewarding specialty planting, confirming its worth for those seeking premium results. The consistent, high quality spice makes this a truly worthwhile addition to any garden.
Know before you buy
Once the flowers bloom, carefully pluck the three deep orange-red stigmas from the center of each blossom. It is best to harvest them on a sunny day when the flowers are fully open, then allow the threads to dry completely before storing them for culinary use.
Yes, Saffron Crocus are perennials. They are known to naturalize well, meaning they will multiply and return each autumn if planted in a suitable environment.
Absolutely. These bulbs are well-suited for containers, making them a great choice for patios or balconies. Ensure your pot has good drainage to keep the bulbs healthy.
Saffron Crocus are considered deer resistant, which makes them a reliable choice for gardens where wildlife might otherwise browse on your flowers.
For optimal growth and flowering, plant your bulbs in a location that receives full sun to partial sun. While they are adaptable, more sunlight generally encourages stronger blooms.
You can typically expect to see blooms 6 to 10 weeks after planting in late summer. This quick turnaround makes them a rewarding addition to your fall landscape.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$9