Glaucous Safflower Plant Care

Glaucous Safflower (Carthamus glaucus) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Carthamus genus. Glaucous Safflower is native to Israel, Lebanon and Egypt. Glaucous Safflower is also known as Wild Safflower, Carthamus glaucus.

Glaucous Safflower displays an upright, branching shrub growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Glaucous Safflower produces bright orange, thistle-like flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Glaucous Safflower every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Glaucous Safflower thrives in full sun.

Carthamus glaucus tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. Glaucous Safflower prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Glaucous Safflower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Glaucous Safflower every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Glaucous Safflower is suited to USDA Zone 8a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Glaucous Safflower can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Glaucous Safflower while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Glaucous Safflower is hardy down to USDA zone 8a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Glaucous Safflower can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to blueflower safflower plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Glaucous Safflower is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Glaucous Safflower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Glaucous Safflower is native to Israel, Lebanon and Egypt.