Calendula
Calendula officinalis
Also referred to as pot marigold, calendula should not be confused with the garden marigold – also of the aster family, but the genus Tagetes. If you look at the herbal actions of this plant, you will see that it holds value for a number of herbal applications.
In the Kitchen
This beautiful garden flower is also a wonderful culinary herb. As an immune booster, you can add fresh or dried petals to homemade soups and stews, and if you are inclined to make your own bone broth it will add even more nutrition to your broth. It looks beautiful and is tasty in garden salads, omelets and quiche, or just add it to your scrambled eggs, and omelets. Calendula makes a lushious tea on it’s own and is even better if you add some Holy Basil or mint.
In the Garden
Calendula seeds are sown in the spring in a full or partially sunny location. When seedlings appear, thin them 6 to 12 inches apart. You can also sow the seeds indoors under grow lights 6 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant seedlings 6 to 12 inches apart. Calendula grows best in compost-rich soils which are well-drained.
Tips and Care
Deadhead flowers often in the early morning, and lay them out to dry or place them in a dehydrator. By deadheading frequently the plant will be encouraged to bloom more often and you will soon have a beautiful calendula garden. During hot weather the plants may have ragged looking foliage and stop flowering. If this happens, simply cut back the plants to about 3 inches tall to encourage more new growth and they should start to flower again soon afterward. You can fertilize calendula with an organic plant food monthly to encourage blooms. I use fish emulsion on all of my plants and have had really good results.
Calendula are easy to grow and have few pests. Some varieties can developed powdery mildew disease during wet weather and should be cut back and sprayed with an organic fungicide to control it. Calendula is an annual flower, but they self-sow readily in Colorado, so wherever you live, don’t be surprised to see some seedlings next spring. You will need to thin these seedlings to 6 to 16 inches apart.
Companion Planting
I grow calendula among my vegetables in groups right in the garden beds because they add such a beautiful pop of color! They also mix well with just about any other flowers and look especially wonderful along the border of borage.
Other Common Names
Calendula is also known as garden marigold, holligold, goldbloom, golds, ruddes, Mary bud, bull’s eyes, and pot marigold.
Precautions and Contraindications
Don’t use calendula if you are pregnant. It is very likely unsafe to consume during pregnancy as there is some concern that it might cause miscarriage. To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid using it during pregnancy topically until more is known of its potential effects.
There is not enough reliable information about the safety of using calendula if you are breast-feeding, so stay on the safe side and avoid using.
Calendula may cause allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family including ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others including yarrow, chamomile and arnica to name a few. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking calendula.
Calendula may cause too much drowsiness if combined with medications used during and after surgery. Stop taking calendula at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Making Medicine
Where to start on the medicinal concoctions you can make with calendula? Calendula is one of the best herbs to use for skin care. It makes a fabulous salve for wounds such as cuts and abrasions and can be used on open or closed wounds. If treated immediately and often, calendula salve may prevent scar tissue from forming. Use it for burns and for dry, chapped skin to heal as quickly as possible.
Calendula is used in beauty products such as creams, lotions, soaps, bath balms, bath salts, facial steam, masks, deodorants and probably any other beauty application you can imagine because it is so soothing to the skin.
A calendula can be used internally as a tea or tincture for many conditions such as sluggish lymphatic drainage.
Did You Know?
Calendula was widely available and was known as “poor man’s saffron” in Medieval times. It was used to color and spice various foods including soup in particular, and mixed it butter to make it look more yellow, and was also used as a dye to color hair.
Astrologically, calendula is associated with the sun and the fire element, and was believed to imbue magical or mystical powers of protection and clairvoyance. It was thought to even help in legal matters, so before you head off to court or sign any legal document, be sure to pick a couple of flowers and bring them along.
If you wanted to keep evil out of your home, calendula flowers were strung above doorposts. To protect someone while sleeping, the flowers were placed under the bed.
It was also said that picking the flowers under the noonday sun will strengthen and comfort the heart. I can attest to that, as picking these bright, sunny flowers with the intention of making a healing balm or soothing tea brings joy and peace to my heart.