Bountiful Gardens

Calendula: The Golden Flower of Sun and Salves

Calendula officinalis, commonly known as Pot Marigold, is a hardy and versatile cool-season annual treasured for centuries for its sunny beauty, and its culinary and medicinal properties. It is important to note that despite its common name, it is not a true marigold (which belongs to the Tagetes genus). Calendula produces cheerful, daisy-like to densely petaled, carnation-style flowers in a warm palette of brilliant yellow, sunny orange, and soft apricot. The flowers and lance-shaped leaves are slightly sticky to the touch and have a unique, clean, and somewhat resinous scent. Easy-going and incredibly productive, Calendula is a must-have for any gardener who values beauty and utility.  Calendula is famously unfussy. It readily adapts to a wide range of conditions, often self-sowing to return to the garden year after year. Its resilience and simple needs make it a rewarding and low-effort addition to any garden space.

Why Calendula is So Beloved

Calendula's enduring popularity is due to its multifaceted nature. It's far more than just a pretty face in the garden.

Edible Flowers: The petals have a slightly peppery, tangy flavor and are famously edible. They can be sprinkled into salads, soups, and rice dishes for a splash of color, or used to infuse oils. Historically, it was known as "poor man's saffron" for its ability to impart a golden color to foods.

Medicinal Properties: Calendula is one of the most well-known skin-healing herbs. The flowers are infused into oils to create salves, creams, and lotions used to soothe all manner of skin irritations, from rashes to minor burns.

Incredibly Easy to Grow: It is one of the easiest flowers to grow directly from seed, making it perfect for beginner gardeners and children.

Cool-Season Champion: It thrives in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, often continuing to bloom after the first light frosts have knocked back more tender annuals.

Beneficial Companion Plant: In the vegetable garden, it is known to attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and ladybugs, while potentially deterring pests like nematodes.

When to Plant:

As a cool-season annual, Calendula performs best when it can mature in mild weather. The ideal time to plant in the garden in early spring (April-May) for a late spring and early summer bloom.  All spring and summer is the absolute perfect time to plant Calendula for a spectacular fall showing. 

Growing Instructions:

Sunlight: Plant in full sun for the most robust growth and abundant blooms.

Soil: Calendula is not picky and will tolerate poor soil, but it performs best in average, well-draining garden soil.

Watering: Water regularly until established. Afterward, it is fairly drought-tolerant but will produce more flowers with consistent moisture.

Harvesting is Key: This is the most important care tip. Calendula's goal is to produce seed. To prevent this and encourage continuous flowering, you must regularly pick or deadhead the flowers. Harvesting the blooms every few days for bouquets, salads, or oil infusions will keep the plant in production mode for months.

A Flower Steeped in History

Calendula is native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region and has been cultivated for at least a thousand years. Its history is woven into medicine, food, and ceremony.

The name Calendula is derived from the Latin kalendae, which means "the first day of the month," a reference to the plant's tendency to be in bloom on the first of every month in milder climates.

The species name, officinalis, is a huge clue to its historical importance. This Latin term indicates a plant that was part of the official pharmacopeia of monks and apothecaries—it had a recognized use and was kept in the officina, or medicinal storeroom.

Ancient Romans and Greeks used it in rituals and ceremonies, often wearing it in garlands. Throughout the Middle Ages, it was a common kitchen garden ingredient, used to color butter and cheese and to add flavor and color to the "pottage" or pot-stews of the era, leading to its name "Pot Marigold." Its reputation as a "healing herb" for the skin has remained steadfast through the centuries, making it one of our most historically significant garden flowers.