did you know?

The name derived from the Greek meaning "saffron," and meaning "smell," alludes to the strong saffron smell the dried flowers emit when they are immersed in water.

general maintenance:

Deadhead spent flowers, or allow ornamental seed heads to develop. Remove foliage in late fall or early spring before new growth emerges. Mulch in winter. In Zones 5 and colder, dig corms in fall, and store as you would dahlias?in boxes of dry soil, sand, and peat in a frost-free location.

pests/diseases:

Spider mites may occur.

controls:

For spider mites, apply horticultural oil spray or insecticidal soap.

how to sow/plant:

Plant corms in spring, 2 inches deep, 8?10 inches apart. Water infrequently until new shoots emerge in spring, then maintain uniform moisture. Mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Monitor soil moisture all season, and water as needed. In spring and again after flowering, apply a balanced, granular fertilizer, following package directions.

garden hint:

Unlike other species of its genus, will produce more flowers if its corms are allowed to become congested, so avoid dividing the plants too frequently.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Disease Resistant
• Drought Tolerant
• Wet Tolerant

garden uses:

• Flowerbed borders
• Naturalizing

other uses:

• Cut Flower
• Everlasting (>seed heads dry well)

combine with:

iris, peonies daylilies yellow sedge ( 'Bowel's Golden'), and purple fountain grass ( 'Purpureum').