What is an Herb Flower for Butterfly Gardens?

Calendula officinalis is a cool season annual. They grow best in full sun to part shade in moist well-draining soil. They are not drought tolerant. Pot marigolds come in many varieties or cultivars; they can be 9 – 30 inches tall and 10 – 18 inches wide. Their colors range from light yellow to gold or red. Unlike its namesake, pot marigold blooms are more accurately described as daisy shaped. These are deer resistant plants.

Calendula Cultivars

• ‘Kablouna Mixed’ has a crested flower in colors of apricot, gold, lemon and orange each with a contrasting center. This calendula plant is 20″ tall and requires spacing of 12.”

• ‘Apricot Bon Bon’ is a tried and true compact plant, at 12″ tall. The double blooms are solid apricot color and open very early in the season.

Kitchen Gardens

Calendula planted in with vegetables will brighten up the garden. Parts of the plant are edible making it useful to grow. The petals of calendula are most often used as a substitute for saffron. They can be used in cooking dishes like soups, stews or omelets. The leaves of pot marigold can be chopped and added to salad or the slightly salty flowers used as a garnish.

The pot marigold is most often sold as an herb plant. This plant has a history of being used medicinally. The dried petals add color to potpourri. The flower, when boiled, will provide a pale yellow dye.

Cutting Gardens

These brightly colored plants have a long flowering season. In a garden bed pot marigolds make good border plants. The long, strong stems of pot marigold make these blooms an excellent candidate for flower arranging.

Butterfly and Scented Gardens

Calendulas are favorites of sulphur, swallowtail and skipper butterflies. The yellow, orange, or red colors and the shape of the bloom, providing the landing pad they prefer, attract butterflies.

The calendula blooms have a sweet spicy, sometimes called woody, scent. Planted along a walkway or in containers near a seating area, they make a fragrant garden. This plant is an ideal choice for gardens grown for multiple purposes.

Although an annual plant, Calendula prefers not to dry out. It will grow well at the edge of a rain garden or pond in a sunny location.

History of Calendula

Calendula, commonly called pot marigold, is from the aster family of chrysanthemums, daisies and ragweed. Originally, pot marigolds were a native of Mediterranean countries but now, can be found worldwide. The African and French marigolds are not related to calendula.

The pot marigold was given this name because the flower heads were tossed into cook pots to add the yellow color of saffron to dishes. Flower petals have been used since the 12th century. The calendula was named 2008 Herb of the Year.