Safflower
Carthamus tinctorius • Asteraceae
🌱 Seed Category
Flower/Oilseed
🌍 Origin Region
Middle East, Mediterranean region
📅 Days to Maturity
90 to 120 days from planting to flowering and seed harvest.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-11 as an annual plant.
About This Seed
Seeds are smooth, hard, white to light brown, four-sided achenes, roughly cylindrical, and about 6-8mm long without a true pappus (though the flower heads produce chaffy structures). The resulting plant is an annual, thistle-like herb growing 30-150 cm tall with branching stems, spiny leaves, and brilliant yellow-orange or red flower heads.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring, direct sow after danger of hard frost
Germination
Germination takes 7-14 days at an optimal soil temperature of 15°C to 21°C. High germination rate when fresh. Lightly cover with 1/4 inch of soil; light is not strictly required for germination.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1/2 to 1 inch deep, spaced 4-6 inches apart in rows 12-24 inches apart. Throws deep taproots, so prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soil with a neutral pH of 6.0-7.0.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily). Highly drought-tolerant once established; water moderately while young and avoid waterlogged soils.
Companion Plants
Grows well with onions, herbs, and other sun-loving drought-tolerant plants. Avoid planting near moisture-loving crops.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional drought and heat tolerance, highly resistant to deer and rabbits due to spiny foliage, produces valuable oil and natural yellow/red dyes, highly attractive to pollinators.