Crocus

About the Crocus

One of the first flowers to bloom in spring, sometimes pushing through snow. Saffron crocus (C. sativus) produces the most expensive spice on Earth - it takes 150,000 flowers to produce 1 kg of saffron worth $5,000-10,000. Each flower produces only 3 stigma threads. Saffron has been cultivated for 3,500+ years. Most crocuses are fall-blooming or spring-blooming. Over 90 species. They are a favorite food of squirrels who dig up and eat the corms. Ancient Minoans depicted saffron collection in palace frescoes. They naturalize freely in lawns.