The Crocus Corsicus
Discover Corsica
Crocus Corsicus is a magnificent plant native to Corsica. It's the first flower of spring, and can be found just about anywhere: lawns, scrubland, forests, rocky areas... From coastal to alpine, you'll even come across it in snow and snowdrifts all over the island. Its flower is recognisable by its bright red or orange pistil. As pretty as it is, it also has an economic and environmental role to play.
Corsican saffron
Corsican saffron "Zaffaranu" is made from the crocus corsicus, the famous spice that will enhance your dishes. The flowers are picked between October and November, and the stigmas are pruned and dried to become the spice.
You can buy Corsican saffron from Zaffaranu or safranière du Cap. Known for its aromatic properties, saffron is also used in many Asian and Oriental medicines.
Its price is relatively high due to the amount of labour required to harvest and process it, making it the most expensive spice in the world, also known as "red gold".
Corsican saffron won a silver medal at the 2017 Concours Général Agricole at the Salon de l'Agriculture in Paris!
A useful plant for bees
The bee lands on the flower, the pollen sticks to its hairs and then it flies off, keeping the pollen in small excavations on its back legs. The bee is the main pollinating insect, and plants need to have their flowers pollinated in order to reproduce.
So keep an eye out for this plant on your walks, and don't hesitate to send us your photos.
