Carthamus, (also commonly known as Safflower), is a thistle like plant with bright orange or yellow spikey flowers. On many varieties the leaves often have spines. Carthamus flowers are at the top of long sprayed bracts.
Growing wild, carthamus has a very long and strong tap root which enables it to thrive in dry soils.
Carthamus has been used for flavouring foods as well as for making a red dye called ‘carthamin’. Carthamus is also grown for extracting vegetable oil. Another use of carthamus is extracting the oil for use in paints instead of linseed oil as it does not have a yellow tint.
It is also claimed that extracts from carthamus can aid weight loss, but this theory is still unproven.
On the wholesale flower markets cathamus is sold in wraps of 25 or 50 stems. Stem lengths vary from 60cm – 80cm tall. Carthamus is rarely used in wedding flowers, which is a shame because the beautiful, bright flowers can be used to stunning effect.
You can buy wholesale carthamus on our Web-Shop. To register Click Here.
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Caring for
Carthamus (Safflower)
To get the best from your wholesale cut carthamus please read the care instructions below carefully:
- Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle with a sharp knife.
- Fill sterilised buckets with luke warm water and add flower food.
- Place the carthamus in the buckets.
- Leave over night to condition before using.
Never leave cut flowers in direct sun light, near a radiator, in a draft or near fruit. (The gas used to ripen fruit will harm most flowers). Keep the carthamus in a cool place and always keep out of the way of children.
You can buy wholesale carthamus on our Web-Shop. To register Click Here.
