# Saffron (*Crocus sativus*)

Saffron is a special spice that comes from the flower of a plant. It has a bright red color and a delicious smell. People use saffron to add flavor and color to their food.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mediterranean regions
- **Also known as:** Crocus sativus

![Saffron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Saffran_crocus_sativus_moist.jpg&width=800)

Photo: HeiWu, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saffran_crocus_sativus_moist.jpg)

## Appearance

The Saffron plant has delicate, vibrant purple or lilac cup-shaped flowers. Inside each blossom, three striking crimson-red stigmas dramatically contrast with three bright yellow anthers, making it easily recognizable.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Asparagales
- **Family:** Iridaceae
- **Genus:** Crocus

## Interesting facts

- Ancient pharaohs used saffron as a royal perfume and even as medicine!
- Each delicate purple flower produces only three tiny, precious red threads.
- Saffron is the world's most expensive spice, costing more than silver by weight!
- This plant doesn't grow wild; it needs people to cultivate it to survive.

## Special abilities

- **Beacon for Bees:** Saffron has vivid purple petals and bright red stigmas that powerfully attract essential insect pollinators.
- **Underground Survival:** Saffron has underground corms, like small bulbs, that store energy to survive cold winters and regrow each year.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 10-20 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar and pollen from its flowers.
- **Eats:** [black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs may feed on the plant's leaves and corms.
- **Eats:** [common vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-vole) (*Microtus arvalis*) — Voles can consume the plant's underground corms.

## Traits

- [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)
- [Spices](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/spices)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Saffron is safe to use in cooking but should only be handled by adults due to its high value and the delicate process of harvesting.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Saffron?

Compare leaf shape and arrangement, stem structure, flowers and growth habit. Some poisonous plants look a lot like kitchen herbs, so looks alone never prove a plant is safe to eat. Herb Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Saffron?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Saffron spread?

10-20 cm

### How big are the flowers on Saffron?

3-5 cm

### When does Saffron bloom?

Fall

### Is Saffron edible?

Yes

### Is Saffron toxic?

Mild

### What is Saffron's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Saffron: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saffron)