Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world and comes from the three long deep red stigmas of the autumn flowering Crocus sativus.
Saffron is grown commercially for food colouring and flavouring.
It flowers in October and November with large lilac flowers with distinctive purple veins.
Plant the bulbs in August or September in gritty, well-drained soil and keep the area weed free.
Harvest the flowers daily, remove the stigmas and dry.
Crocus sativus was possibly introduced here by the Romans. In Tudor times enough were grown in Essex to give the town of Saffron Walden its name.
In stock now Autumn flowering bulbs such as Crocus sativus, Waterlilly Colchicum and Kotschyanus Crocus – they can all be planted now to give autumn colour.
