The main difference between Safflower and Saffron is that the Safflower is a species of plant, safflower and Saffron is a flower and spice. Saffron (pronounced or ) is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the “saffron crocus”.Click to see full answer. Similarly one may ask, can safflower be substituted for saffron?Safflower is widely used as a replacement for saffron by budget-minded cooks. If you are not fond of the flavor of saffron but want your dish to have a bright yellow color, safflower may be ideal for you. You can use saffron in place of safflower in dishes where its strong flavor will not be a problem.Also Know, is saffron and turmeric the same thing? Saffron consists entirely of the stamens from crocus flowers native to Crete while turmeric is an Indian rhizome related to ginger. Saffron contains a yellow pigment but more importantly, the stamens have a light flavor that is different from the flavor of turmeric. Likewise, is Saffron made from safflower? American saffron or Mexican saffron is safflower, a member of the daisy family and the same plant that is used to produce safflower oil. Dried flowers from this plant impart the characteristic yellow color to foods, but they have no flavor. It colors food golden yellow but has a different flavor from saffron.What do you do with safflower?Safflower seed oil is used for preventing heart disease, including “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis) and stroke. It is also used to treat fever, tumors, coughs, breathing problems, clotting conditions, pain, heart disease, chest pain, and traumatic injuries.