Organic Deep Orange Poor Man's Safflower 100 Seeds

by Hirt's

Product Details

• ASIN: B000U0HJBI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,971 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)

Product Description

The orange-red flowers of safflower serve as a substitute for saffron (Crocus sativus), since they give a (rather pale) colour to the food. They are frequently sold as saffron to tourists in Hungary or Northern Africa (and many other parts of the world).

Like the Yellow Safflower, except deep reddish orange. Exported from Egypt over 400 years ago and once grown extensively for its orange color and as a saffron substitue, now the plant is rarely seen. Great in a wild garden and it reseeds so once you plant it you have it forever.

The dried safflower flowers are used in Mediterranean herb mixes. Cookbooks from Georgia cuisine mention Imeretian saffron, which is the dried flowers of safflower. Imeretian saffron appears in the Georgian spice mixture khmeli-suneli.

Since the true saffron (Crocus sativus) is the most expensive spice in the world many people are switching to the safflower as a less expensive substitute. Plus the Safflower is easy to grow and an excellent cut flower, and can be used whenever the recipe calls for saffron!

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual the grows 3-4' tall, has 2" in diameter flowers and prefers full sun.