Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is part of the Asteraceae family, which also includes daisies and chrysanthemums. The name “calendula” comes from the Latin word calendae, which means “little calendar”—that’s because calendulas are so hearty they can bloom in almost every month of the year, from May to early fall. Calendulas come in annual and perennial varieties and have Mediterranean origins.

Common nameCalendula, Common Marigold, Garden Marigold, Gold bloom, Holligold, Marigold, Mary Bud, Pot Marigold, Ruddles
Botanical nameCalendula officinalis
FamilyAsteraceae
Speciesofficinalis
OriginMediterranean
Life cycleAnnual
Plant typeAnnual
Hardiness zone2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
SunlightFull Sun
MaintenanceMedium
Soil conditionClay
Soil phAcid
DrainageWell-Drained
Harvest timeFall
Flowering periodSpring
Height1 ft. – 2 ft.
Width1 ft. – 2 ft.
Flower colorGold, Yellow
Leaf colorGreen
Fruit typeAchene
Leaf benefitFragrant
Flower benefitEdible
Garden styleCutting Garden
UsesContainer

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Calendula officinalis, the pot marigold, common marigold, ruddles, Mary’s gold or Scotch marigold, is a flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is probably native to southern Europe, though its long history of cultivation makes its precise origin unknown, and it may possibly be of garden origin. It is also widely naturalised farther north in Europe (as far as southern England) and elsewhere in warm temperate regions of the world.

The Latin specific epithet officinalis refers to the plant’s medicinal and herbal uses.

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula officinalis and sky Berdan CC BY-SA 3.0

Calendula officinalis is a short-lived aromatic herbaceous perennial, growing to 80 cm (31 in) tall, with sparsely branched lax or erect stems. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 5–17 cm (2–7 in) long, hairy on both sides, and with margins entire or occasionally waved or weakly toothed. The inflorescences are yellow, comprising a thick capitulum or flowerhead 4–7 cm (1+1⁄2–3 in) diameter surrounded by two rows of hairy bracts; in the wild plant they have a single ring of ray florets surrounding the central disc florets. The disc florets are tubular and hermaphrodite, and generally of a more intense orange-yellow colour than the female, tridentate, peripheral ray florets. The flowers may appear all year long where conditions are suitable. The fruit is a thorny curved achene and weighs on average 10.1 mg (n=50).

Calendulas are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including cabbage moth, gothic moth, large yellow underwing, and setaceous Hebrew character.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

Calendula generally prefers full sun, but it sometimes languishes during the hottest months unless it receives some afternoon shade.

Temperature and Humidity

Calendula prefers mild summer temperatures and may die away by the end of summer in very hot climates.

A hard freeze will kill the plants. If you expect some frost for a day or so, you can protect the plants with a frost blanket overnight and uncover as the sun warms up the air the next day. Three to four inches of mulch will also protect the plants from cold temperatures.

Watering

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula officinalis-2 Rameshng CC BY-SA 3.0

Water frequently until the plants are established. Mature plants thrive on only occasional watering. Avoid too much water with these plants.

Soil

Like most members of the daisy family, calendula needs a well-drained soil high in organic material. Dense, wet soils can cause the roots to rot. This plant tolerates a wide range of soil pH but prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil (6.0 to 7.0).

Fertilizing

Calendula does not need much in the way of feeding. If planted in fertile garden soil, it requires no additional feeding at all. Marginal soils may require feeding with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, but over-feeding can make the plants leggy and spindly.

Container plants require monthly feeding with a diluted, balanced fertilizer.

Pruning

Calendula plants benefit from some pruning from time to time. As the plant grows, the flower heads can be clipped when they begin to wilt, unless you’d like to keep the Calendula seeds, in which case you should allow them to dry out, but not so much that they drop the seeds. Pruning the flower heads makes space and allows light for other calendula blossoms to bloom. This is good news if you want to use the plant for food or for treatment since regular removal of the Calendula flowers encourages more to grow and provides a regular supply of petals and leaves.

Propagating

Unlike vines and other kinds of houseplants, calendula can’t be propagated by clipping. However, as an annual flower, it produces seeds that you can collect and use to plant new Calendulas. They have small, curved seeds that look like they’re folding over onto themselves. They are a little larger than other seeds in comparison making it extremely easy to sow seeds. You can plant seeds in regular or organic potting soil, and they typically take up to two months to grow from seed to mature plants.

How to Grow from Seed

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula officinalis talaakso CC BY-SA 2.0

Calendula is very easy to grow from seeds, which easily germinate and sprout. Seeds collected from the flowers can be saved and replanted; the plants will also readily self-seed in the garden.

Start calendula seeds indoors in a seed starter mix about six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Or, you can sow them directly into the garden just before the last spring frost date. Most plants bloom within two months of seeding. These plants very often self-seed in the garden; don’t mistake the seedlings for weeds.

Potting and Repotting

Although the “pot” in the common name “pot marigold” refers to this plant’s traditional use in cooking, calendula is also commonly planted in pots, where it thrives. Most varieties grow well in containers, particularly shorter cultivars.

Use any well-draining, organic potting soil, or make a mixture with a blend of half garden soil and half compost. Make sure the pot has plenty of drainage holes since this plant does not like to be soggy. Potted specimens need regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer.

Pests and Diseases

Calendula has no serious insect or disease problems. The plant can sometimes be susceptible to powdery mildew, which can be remedied by good air circulation.

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) JossSmithson CC BY-SA 2.0

Slugs and snails may feed on the plants, especially when they are young. Keep the ground clear of debris to minimize slug and snail damage. Aphids and whiteflies can sometimes be a problem. To control them, spray them with water or treat them with insecticidal soap.

III. Calendula care tips

  • Clip the Calendula flowers frequently – When you cut back the flowers, it doesn’t harm the plant, rather it helps it grow strong. A robust plant is better able to deal with stress like underwatering or temperature fluctuations.
  • Put your Calendula outside when you can – This plant loves sunlight, like its Family relatives, the Daisy and Sunflower. Setting the pot outside in the open air and sunlight from time to time will be good for it, as they love good air circulation. This is also a good opportunity to give the soil a little extra soaking and let it drain out of the pot.
  • Be careful not to overwater – When you water regularly indoors, make sure there isn’t any standing water in the pot. Using a deeper pot will give the soil plenty of room to sink and keep the roots dry. Too much watch can cause root rot, mold, powdery mildew, or cause the plant to wilt.

IV. Varieties of Calendula Flowers

There are more than 100 types of calendula blossoms. Here are some of the most popular varieties:

  • Radio Extra: This is a taller variety—one-and-a-half to two inches tall—with bright orange blooms.
  • Pink Surprise: This variety has gold and yellow flowers with pink-tinged petals.
  • Touch of Red: This colorful calendula comes in a mix of yellow, cream, apricot, and orange, with red tips on the petals.
  • Greenheart Orange: Greenheart Orange is an unusual variety with orange petals surrounding a lime-green center.
  • Dwarf Gem: This type of calendula has double petals that come in orange, yellow, and apricot. It is also compact and grows well in containers.
  • Sherbet Fizz: This variety has creamy-colored petals with red-tipped undersides.
  • Calypso: Another variety that grows well in containers, the Calypso comes in yellow and orange flowers with double petals and a dark center.
  • Pacific Beauty: Pacific Beauty calendulas have yellow and orange flowers and long, strong stems.

V. Uses and Benefits

Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula Officinalis (Real Jardin Botanico, Madrid) (4657015473) Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France CC BY 2.0

In addition to brightening up your home garden, calendula flowers are useful for a variety of purposes.

  • Medicinal uses

Flowers were used in ancient Greek, Roman, Middle Eastern, and Indian cultures as a medicinal herb, as well as a dye for fabrics, foods, and cosmetics. Many of these uses persist today. They are also used to make oil that protects the skin.

Marigold leaves can also be made into a poultice that is believed to help scratches and shallow cuts to heal faster, and to help prevent infection. It has also been used in eye drops.

  • Culinary uses

Pot marigold flowers are edible. They are often used to add color to salads or added to dishes as a garnish and in lieu of saffron. The leaves are edible but are often not palatable. They have a history of use as a potherb and in salads. The plant is also used to make tea.

VI. Harvesting and Storage

Although some people find the peppery taste somewhat bitter, the flowers and leaves of calendula can be used as edible flowers in salads and other recipes, either fresh or dried. The petals can also be used to create a rich yellow dye.

Collect calendula flowers in the late morning, after the dew has dried. Pick flowers when they are fully open. To dry the flowers, spread out the cut flower heads on a screen in a dry, shady spot. Turn them occasionally until they are papery dry, then store them in canning jars until ready to use.

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