Safflower Seeds - Corrales Azafran

BOTANICAL NAME

Carthamus tinctorius

LIFE CYCLE

• Annual

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

• Full Sun

BLOOM SEASON

• Summer

GROWTH HABIT

• Upright

PLANT HEIGHT

• 30 to 36 inches

COLOR

• Orange

Safflower is an ancient and versatile crop, treasured for its many uses and rich history. Once a significant crop in Egypt, Greece, China, and Spain, it was later introduced to New Mexico. Highly adaptable, safflower serves as a saffron substitute, with its flowers used as a coloring spice, dried for tea, or processed into a deep orangish-red dye. The young plants provide tasty leafy greens, while the seeds can be pressed for oil. Additionally, its deep taproots make it an excellent natural soil breaker.

• • Many culinary and cosmetic uses
• • As a member of the thistle family, does best with 8 to 12 daily hours of sunlight
• • May need support as plant grows larger

PLANTING SEASON

• Spring

SOWING METHOD

• Direct Sow

PLANTING DEPTH

• 1/4 inch

WATER NEEDS

• Average

PLANT SPACING

• 6 to 12 inches

HARDINESS ZONES

• N/A - Annual