A bulbous plant belonging to the iris family, lilac-colored flower with a light yellow pistil that divides into 3-6 long red stigma branches. These are 2.5-4.5 cm long and are harvested as saffron. The true crocus blooms in the fall, unlike the small crocus that is often seen in gardens in the spring. In contrast to the similar-looking autumn crocus, which also flowers in the fall, crocuses have three stamens, while autumn crocuses have six.
It has been cultivated in the Mediterranean and the Near East since ancient times. Today it is grown in southern France, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Austria (Pannonian saffron, Wachau saffron) and Switzerland.