General
Safflowers are tall gangling plants, native to the Mediterranean and cultured for several thousand years. The highly coloured yellow-red flowers make an inexpensive substitute for saffron in cooking. These are also the best kind for producing the deep orange colouring agent used in oil infusions, salves and cosmetics. Dry the petals and add them to the oil infusion.
Latin
Carthamus tinctorius.
Asteraceae family.
Difficulty
Easy.
Season & Zone
Season: Warm season.
Exposure: Full-sun, sun, part-shade.
Zone: Hardy from zone 3 to 9.
Growing
For fresh cut flowers, pick them once the buds have started to open. For an easy-to-prepare dried flower, wait until the flowers are fully open. To harvest the large seed to crush for oil, allow the plant to mature fully.
Diseases & Pests
None.
