Safflower Seeds – Carthamus tinctorius

Ancient, Striking, and Endlessly Useful

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is one of the world's oldest cultivated plants, prized for centuries for its vivid orange-yellow thistle-like blooms, its use as a natural dye, and its culinary oil. In the garden, it is a bold and architectural annual that commands attention — spiny, silvery-green foliage topped with brilliant flame-coloured flower heads that dry to a rich, lasting orange. A fascinating and rewarding plant that bridges the gap between ornamental and useful.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🌼 Vivid orange-yellow thistle-like blooms — bold, architectural, and eye-catching in the border or cutting garden
• ✂️ Outstanding dried flower — retains its brilliant colour beautifully when dried, lasting for years in arrangements
• 🌿 Natural dye plant — flowers yield a traditional yellow-to-red dye used in textiles and food colouring for centuries
• 🪴 Loved by bees and beneficial insects — a rich nectar source in the summer garden
• ☀️ Drought tolerant once established — thrives in warm, dry conditions with minimal fuss

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow directly into a sunny, well-drained position in spring once the soil has warmed. Safflower dislikes being transplanted, so direct sowing is strongly recommended. Sow seeds 1–2 cm deep and thin to 30 cm apart. It grows to 60–90 cm tall and thrives in warm, dry summers — ideal for NZ's drier regions including Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Central Otago, and Canterbury. Harvest flower heads for drying just as they reach full colour, before they begin to fade.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 5 seeds of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius).