Calendula Colorful Annual Flower

“Flowers are lovely; love is flower-like; friendship is a sheltering tree”. Samuel Taylor Coleridge

This colorful, annual flower is distributed throughout the world as a garden plant. Calendula,(Calendula officinalis) was first used in Indian and Arabic cultures, before being “discovered” by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. As this hardy annual seems to be in flower continuously, it attracted a botanic name which reflects the belief that it was always in bloom on the “first day of each month” (Latin calendae). The long growing supply of petals and young leaves, however, did contribute to its value and frequent use.

In India, colorful wreaths of calendula are used to decorate Hindu temple altars and to crown the gods and goddesses. The Egyptians valued it as a rejuvenating herb, and the Greeks garnished and flavored food with its golden petals.

In medieval times calendula flowers were considered an emblem of love and used to give young maidens knowledge of whom they would marry. To dream of calendula flowers was a sign of all good things to come; simply to look at them would drive away evil humors.

Calendula is one of the most versatile herbs. The flowers contain antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that promote healing. Pharmacological studies(primarily in Europe) have proven that calendula flowers promote metabolism of proteins and collagen—in other words they help to grow new, healthy cells. In the American Civil War, calendula was used by doctors on the battlefield to treat open wounds. Make a compress or poultice of the flowers for burns, scalds or stings. Also they are useful in the treatment of varicose veins. There are many skin and cosmetic preparations which contain calendula. Infuse the flowers as a skin lotion to nourish and clear the skin, and clear up spots and pimples. Strain, pour into plastic or glass bottles and refrigerate. An infusion can be made to aid digestion, also use as a healing mouthwash for gums.

Calendula is a colorful annual with a height and spread of approximately 12 to 20 inches. Daisylike, single or double flowers are bright yellow or orange from spring to autumn. The seeds can be sown in spring and again in the fall under protection. Calendula is a very tolerant plant, growing in any soil that is not waterlogged, but prefers and looks best, in a sunny position. Calendula is sometimes called pot marigold. Do not confuse the calendula or marigold with the French or African marigolds, which are Tagetes.

The flowers are sensitive to variations of temperature and dampness. Open flowers forecast a fine day. Encourage continuous flowering by deadheading. It self-seeds abundantly but seems never to become a nuisance in the garden. Self-sown seeds normally germinate in autumn and overwinter if temperatures do not go persistently below 32 degrees. Calendula attracts aphids away from other plants!

Pick flowers just as they open during the summer, both for fresh use and for drying. They dry and store quite easily. Pick the leaves young for fresh use in salads. Calendulas look very cheerful in containers and combine nicely with other plants.

Flower petals make a very good culinary dye. They have been used for butter and soft cheese, and as a “poor man’s saffron” to color rice. They are lovely in salads and omelettes.

You can have great results using this cheerful garden flower as an excellent skin healer both in salves and in soaps. But of course, simply growing this daisylike flower of yellow or orange, bringing blooms from spring until autumn gives its own healing.

References:

McVicar, Jessica. Herbs for the Home. Penguin Publishing Company,1994.