Saffron is a garden flower, more precisely, an ornamental bulbous plant, which is best known as "crocus". Its height is up to 10 cm.
In the early spring, when there is still absolutely no greenery, multicolored representatives of the iris family - crocuses - appear on the clearings. But there are some of them that decorate flower beds with their flowering in autumn. There are saffron in various colors: white and yellow, orange and lilac, cream and purple, blue and purple. The duration of flowering of crocuses depends directly on the ambient temperature (the hotter, the faster it completes) and on the varietal characteristics of each instance.
Saffron (flower) on alpine slides or under trees is very decorative. You can use them in group mixed plantings with snowdrops, copses or Corydalis. Against the background of a smooth green lawn, multi-colored spots of delicate flowers will look very touching .
It grows in the sun in fertile soil. It puts up with shade and partial shade, but in such areas it will not bloom so abundantly. He does not like stagnation of water, so good drainage is needed. Fertilize crocus with compost or humus.
Saffron (flower) should be transplanted during the period when the plant is resting. The process of reproduction consists in dividing the corms and planting them in a permanent place. A transplant is performed every 4 years. Those specimens that bloom in April should be planted in the ground in September. They need to take root before the cold starts. And crocuses blooming in autumn are best planted in a permanent place in August.
Usually saffron (flower) is planted to a depth of 6 centimeters. If the tubers are small, it is best if the depth matches two of these bulbs. It is desirable to maintain a distance between plants of about 10 cm. To prevent saffron (flower) from winter cold, planting should be mulled with peat or a 5-cm layer of dry leaves. To prevent stagnation of water, it is advisable to cover the flowers with a waterproof material. You should also take into account the fact that small rodents cause great damage to crocuses.
You do not need to water them even in the heat, since in the summer they have no vegetation process.
Being very decorative, saffron (flowers) have healing properties. They are used in cooking, medicine and as a dye.
Gather flowers opening at dawn in sunny weather. Orange pestles, which are cut by hand, are valuable. To spice was of good quality, it should be dried in 12 minutes at a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees. For storage, a dark container is selected, which is hermetically sealed.
Crocus is very popular in oriental medicine. It is an integral part of drugs that help improve digestion, is used for liver diseases, relieves coughing attacks and cures whooping cough.
The dye is obtained from the stigmas of a plant. It is used to give various shades to natural fabrics such as linen, cotton, wool. Saffron is also added to confectionery. Abroad, it is used in the production of butter and soft drinks.