Safflower is a warm season broadleaf, that can be planted very early in the spring and will tolerate sub-freezing temperatures in its rosette stage.  It is an annual with an upright growth habit and good salinity tolerance.  It is very deep rooted and effective at ‘mining’ mobile nutrients deep in the soil profile.  It will form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and its flowers attract pollinators.  It has also been emerging as a possible crop with markets for the oil from its seeds.