Carthamus tinctorius White Grenade seeds

The Carthamus tinctorius 'White Grenade' is a luminous selection of safflower endowed with large creamy-white, original and decorative flowers. The wild species, a beautiful annual once cultivated for its red and yellow pigments as well as its oil-rich seeds, finds here a more ornamental variation. The 'White Grenade' forms a robust clump topped in summer with pale pom-poms perched on tall thorny stems. It is sown in spring under heated cover: it will offer splendid flowers for fresh or dried cut flowers.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, the Carthamus tinctorius 'White Grenade' is an ornamental cultivar of safflower also known by the vernacular names of false saffron, dyer's saffron or bastard saffron. This cultivar is part of the 'Grenade' series developed specifically for the production of cut flowers, both fresh and dried. This series is recognised for its uniform stems, its slightly or non-thorny leaves and its round heads, adapted for professional cultivation in open fields or under tunnels.

The botanical species Carthamus tinctorius is native to arid regions of the Near East, particularly central and eastern Turkey and Iran. It is only known in cultivation, but it is interfertile with related wild species such as Carthamus persicus, C. oxyacanthus and C. palaestinus.

The safflower 'White Grenade' is a fast-growing annual plant, reaching a height of 80 cm. The plant has an upright habit and sturdy, slightly ramified stems. The leaves are alternate, oval to lanceolate in shape, dark green, with slightly dentate and scarcely thorny margins, which facilitates handling during harvest. Flowering occurs in summer, from July to September, 3 to 4 months after sowing. The globular flower heads measure 2 to 4 cm in diameter. They are formed of tubular florets in a cream to off-white colour. The flowers are mainly pollinated by insects although self-pollination is also possible. The scent of the flowers is subtle. Safflower seeds can be harvested for resowing the following year. Rich in oil, they attract certain birds at the end of the season.

The Carthamus tinctorius 'White Grenade' is suited to well-drained, even poor soil and thrives in dry ground. It requires warmth and dislikes moisture; its foliage is quite susceptible to fungal diseases, and it fears cool, rainy climates. It is cultivated in full sun, in very well-drained soil. Greenhouse cultivation is possible in all regions. It can be transplanted into open ground, in the vegetable garden or in a border, as soon as the risk of frosts has passed. Its cultivation seems better suited to Mediterranean climates as rainfall is generally less frequent there in spring and summer. A large country-style border can be created by combining it with echinops, common yarrow and grasses such as Panicum.

For dried cut flowers: pick the flowers in bud, barely open.

Safflower in cooking:
Roasted seeds can be eaten as an appetiser. Young leaves can be consumed raw, in salads, or steamed.

An ecological asset:
All summer long, the melliferous flowers of safflowers will attract pollinating insects and butterflies to your garden. The oil-rich seeds are particularly appreciated by birds (Parrots, Tits…). At the end of flowering, harvest them to bring joy during the winter scarcity period.