Calendula (Pot Marigold)

Calendula (Pot Marigold)

Botanical name: Calendula officinalis

Bloom type: Perennial 

Calendula officinalis, or Marigolds, are a popular annual with colorful flowers that are easy to grow in average, moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Marigolds also do well with some shade during hot summers, but become leggy in too much shade.

To cultivate Marigolds, you can start seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and plant the seedlings or purchased starter plants directly in the garden just after the last frost date. If you are sowing seeds directly in the ground, sow them just before the last front date. As the plants mature, you can pinch them back to encourage compact bushy growth and deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom. Marigolds do not do well in hot summer weather or times of drought, but can be cut back to rejuvenate in the fall. They also reseed in the garden. 

Flowers are edible and have a slightly bitter, tangy, peppery flavor They add color to salads and other dishes. Marigolds attract butterflies and are useful as cut flowers. The flowers make a beautiful yellow dye.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

Susceptible to powdery mildew. Watch for slugs and snails, particularly on young plants, aphids and whiteflies. Cucumber mosaic disease and powdery mildew can cause problems with this plant.

For all medicinal preparations, be sure that you use the whole dried flowers, as the medicinal oils are found mostly in the resinous green bases of the flower heads. Also take care that the dried petals are bright yellow or orange, which indicates quality and freshness. 

Pick the flowers in the heat of the day when the dew has evaporated and the flowers are looking perky. When you pick calendula, your fingers will be sticky from the resinous bracts, which form the green base of the flower heads. Dry on screens or airy baskets in a well-ventilated, warm area.

Parts Used:  Whole flowers (as mentioned before, be sure to use the entire flower head, including the green base, rather than the petals alone)

Medicinal Preparations: Tea, tincture, infused oil, salve, broth, compress, poultice, vaginal douches and suppositories, sitz baths

Tincture ratios and dosage: Fresh flowers 1:2 95%; dried flowers 1:6 70%. Both preparations 2–3 ml (⅖ to ⅗ teaspoon) three times a day

Infusion ratios and dosage: 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) of the dried flowers infused in 1 cup (240 ml) of water three times a day; 3 to 12 grams of the dried flower a day by infusion

Herbal Actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Lymphagogue
• Vulnerary (promotes wound healing)
• Antibacterial
• Antifungal
• Emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow)
• Cholagogue (stimulates bile)

Information sourced from the NC Master Gardener Plant Toolbox and Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine.