Crocus

Crocus

The crocus, well-known of the gardeners is a long-lived bulbous plant with spring or autumnal flowering according to the species. Its linked flowers, mixed, striped or degraded can be declined various colors.

In the lawns, the crocus multiplies easily and naturally year on the other without specific conversation. Simply avoid cutting the leaves to him before they are faded, he needs to restore its reserves after its flowering.

When the crocus is planted in group, it forms splendid clouds of color in the lawns. This flower is also cultivated very well out of flower stand on the balconies. Whatever the species, the bubble called onion forwards 6 or 7 leaves for 2 or 3 floral stalks.

Did you know?

• The name crocus comes from the Greek who means “saffron”.

• The saffron is extracted from Crocus . More than 659 460 flowers are necessary to produce one kilo of fresh saffron which will represent only one fifth of kilo, once dried! You will thus understand the price of this spice which is most expensive.

• Of the Middle Ages until the end of the 19th century, it is the town of (between and ) which was the French capital of the saffron. The plant was venerated so much that it automatically entered the constitution of equips with the young girls to marry. A carnival of the saffron also existed and today still, the area accommodates the museum of the saffron.

• The saffron is known since antiquity. It appears already in the works of and . Egyptians, then the Hebrews, the Indians but also Persians cultivated it to collect the famous spice of which they were used for to aromatize food. In these civilizations, the saffron was also used of offering to the gods and also as dyeing for the silk trade. The Romans as for them appreciated particularly out of infusion.

• Do you know the crop of the bubbles to Chinese? Not, follow this link.