Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Herbs Saffron By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 1, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Whether you call it an herb or a spice, saffron is made from the dried stigmas of one fall-blooming crocus species. This precious herb can be worth thousands of dollars per pound. Grow your own crop for significant savings in making your own paella. Plant this crocus in early fall; the corms will bloom 6-8 weeks later if the bulbs are planted 3-4 inches deep and about 2 inches apart. Saffron grows best in full sun in well-drained soil. Saffron Overview Genus Name Crocus sativus Common Name Saffron Plant Type Bulb, Herb Light Part Sun, Sun Height 6 to 6 inches Width 1 to 3 inches Flower Color Blue, Purple Season Features Fall Bloom Special Features Cut Flowers Zones 6, 7, 8 Propagation Division, Seed Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit