Saffron - Very Cold Tolerant Plant
Saffron (Crocus sativus L)
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the 'saffron crocus'. The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and coloring agent in food. The term “saffron” applies to the flower’s thread-like structures called stigma.
Saffron has a sweet, floral taste to it. It's earthy and has a complex nuanced flavor.
Saffron is a relatively easy plant to grow. It is very cold hardy, and thrives in extreme weather condition, and do well in low humidity, chill winter, and also hot and dry summer. Saffron is usually grown from corms which will be the 'mother' of the plant, after a while there will be baby corms growing under the mother and these will then push the 'mother' plant out and the new plants will take over. Technically you only need to buy the plants once as the baby corms from the mother plant will spread out and take over the 'mother' and continue multiplying. Saffron can be grown both indoors and outdoors and will also grow without soil like in the hydroponics system.
Harvesting takes place for five to six weeks from the beginning of April; stigmas must be picked within 48 hours and dried quickly to retain maximum color. Saffron is harvested by hand.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, rich in organic matter soil with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0.
- Watering: Requires moderate watering during the growth period, but the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings to prevent bulb rot.
- Temperature: Ideal growing temperatures are between 15°C and 20°C. The plant is dormant during the summer and requires dry, warm conditions during this period.
- Light: Full sun to light shade. Saffron crocuses bloom better under full sun.
- Fertilising: Apply a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer after flowering to support bulb growth.
- Pruning: Not applicable as saffron is grown from bulbs, but remove dead or fading flowers to maintain plant health.
- Mulching: Light mulching helps keep the soil temperature stable and retains moisture during the growing season.
- Pest Control: Saffron is relatively pest-free but watch for common bulb pests and fungal diseases.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Produces purple flowers in autumn; the red stigmas are the saffron spice.
- Potting: Suitable for container growing as long as the containers are deep enough to accommodate the bulbs and ensure excellent drainage.
- Feeding Regime: Minimal feeding required; a phosphorus-rich feed post-flowering can aid in bulb development for the next season.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $35
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
