Because of its value, saffron is among the leading flowers of the world economically. There is a special exchange for buying and selling it. According to food experts, it is among the richest of all foods for human health.
Number of species
Only one species produces the commercial saffron spice: Crocus sativus. The genus Crocus has about 90 species in total, but only Crocus sativus is the cultivated saffron species.
Habitat
The saffron crocus was first domesticated on Mount Elwend (Alvand) in the Zagros range. For this reason Iran is still the best-known producer in the world today; it is grown in many other countries too, but in much smaller quantities.
Season
Autumn. The flowers open in Çirîya pêşîn (October) and last until Çirîya paşîn (November).
Written by Weysî Silêman Elî · Last updated 18 October 2026
