Zanzibar Safflower is a striking annual flower that brings vibrant orange, yellow, and red blooms to gardens across zones 1-11, reaching 24-36 inches tall and flowering within 70-79 days. This organic, open-pollinated variety thrives in warm, dry climates, particularly zones 6-9, and attracts pollinators while resisting deer pressure. Whether grown in beds, borders, or containers, it delivers weeks of color from late spring through mid-summer, making it both a pollinator magnet and a landscape statement.
Full Sun
Low
1-11
36in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
These blooms shift through warm tones of orange, yellow, and red as they mature, creating a dynamic display that lasts several weeks. The plants grow into compact bushes 24-36 inches tall that fit neatly into borders and containers without sprawling. Zanzibar Safflower draws pollinators reliably while standing firm against deer, and its preference for warm, dry conditions means it thrives with minimal fuss in the right climate zones.
Zanzibar Safflower is grown primarily as an ornamental flower. Its long-lasting blooms in warm hues make it valuable for cut flower arrangements and dried flower work, while its ability to attract pollinators gives it functional value in gardens designed to support bees and other beneficial insects.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow Zanzibar Safflower directly into the garden in spring after the soil has warmed. Plant in full sun in well-draining soil spaced 6 inches apart, with rows 24 inches apart.
Harvest blooms once they reach full color, typically in the orange, yellow, or red stage depending on which phase of the flower's development you prefer. Cut stems in the morning when flowers are fully open for best longevity in arrangements or for drying.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.