Carthamus tinctorius Zanzibar - seeds

Carthamus tinctorius 'Zanzibar' is a selection of achene safflower with sparsely spiny foliage and large, original and colourful orange flowers. The classic variety is an annual plant of beautiful stature, formerly cultivated for the red and yellow pigments extracted from its flowers, but also for its oilseeds. 'Zanzibar' forms a beautiful tuft adorned with orange pompoms that are eye-catching in summer. Sown in spring under heated shelter, it will produce beautiful flowers for dried bouquets.

Carthamus tinctorius 'Zanzibar' is a horticultural selection. The achene safflower, also called Dyer's saffron or False saffron, is an annual plant of the asteraceae family that has been domesticated by humans for a long time. It does not exist in the wild. Its ancestor is probably Carthamus persicus, native to central and eastern Turkey and Iran. It is a plant of arid zones subject to seasonal rains. The safflower develops a very deep taproot that allows it to survive in this type of environment. The plant germinates, flowers, produces seeds and dies within 4 to 5 months.

The 'Zanzibar' orange selection forms a highly branched clump of 70-80 cm in height with a thistle-like appearance. The plant develops a rosette of basal leaves, without petioles, lanceolate to elliptical, measuring 7 to 15 cm long and 2.5 to 6 cm wide, with toothed edges. As the day length and temperature increase, whitish, highly branched stems rise from the rosette. They bear more rounded, non-prickly leaves, which decrease in size towards the top of the stem. Flowering occurs in summer, 3 to 4 months after sowing. Each branching stem bears up to 5 heads comprising 15 to 20 capitula. Each flower in the capitulum measures between 3 and 4 cm in diameter, and has multiple orange petals or ligules enclosed in green bracts. The overall appearance is somewhat tousled. After pollination, fruits called achenes are formed. They are ovoid, 5 to 8 mm long and have 4 angles. They are ripe when the leaves turn brown. Safflower seeds can be harvested for resowing the following year. They are rich in oil and attract certain birds at the end of the season.

The 'Zanzibar' safflower requires warmth and does not like humidity; its foliage is quite susceptible to fungal diseases and it dislikes cool and rainy climates. It should be planted in full sun, in light and well-drained soil. Greenhouse cultivation is possible in all regions. It can be planted in open ground, in the vegetable garden or in a flower bed, as soon as the risk of frost has passed. A large country-style flower bed can be created by associating it with thistles and medium-height ornamental grasses.

For dried bouquets: pick and dry the flowers when they are still in bud, just barely open.

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

An ecological asset:
Throughout the summer, the nectar-rich flowers of safflowers attract pollinating insects and butterflies to your garden. The oil-rich seeds are particularly appreciated by some birds (Parrots, Tits, etc.). You can harvest them after flowering.