One of my neighbors has some small purple crocus blooming in their front yard this autumn. I'm taking a close look to see what kind they are. Could they be Saffron Crocus? Come into my post to find out!

What kind of crocus is this? Is it a Saffron Crocus?

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There are many kinds of small, fall-flowering crocus. The Pacific Bulb Society describes over 35 different species!^1,2,3

Let's take a closer look at these little crocus! The flowers have emerged from the ground before their leaves. That's a key feature in identifying crocus species.

See the bright orange-red parts peeking up from the center of the crocus flowers? Those are tubes that the pollen has to travel down to fertilize the flower. The form of those tubes is a key crocus identification feature, too.

See the yellow base in the center? That's another key identification feature!

Looking closer at the tubes, or styles, it's easy to see that they are really divided into many parts. That's distinctive!

Looking at all the identification features -- light purple flowers emerging before the leaves, a yellow base to the flowers, orange-red styles divided into many parts -- this looks like Crocus speciosa. It naturalizes well, taking care of itself and even spreading, without much gardening help.

Saffron spice comes from one specific kind of crocus, Crocus sativus, not the C. speciosa that my neighbor has in their yard. But I will be able to show you the Saffron crocus! I grow it in my garden. And the harvest has just started, so stay tuned!

¹Pacific Bulb Society Fall Crocus: A-H // ²Pacific Bulb Society Fall Crocus: I-O // ³Pacific Bulb Society Fall Crocus: P-Z

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What Do You Think?

• Do you have any fall-flowering crocus in your area?
• Do you grow any crocus that flower in the spring or fall?
• Do you like Saffron spice?
• Have you grown and harvested Saffron?

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Haphazard Homestead

foraging, gardening, nature, simple living close to the land
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