Calendula, Pot marigold, Mary's gold, ruddles, and Scotch marigold

Calendula History and Folkore

Native to Southern Europe, naturalized in many areas and a popular garden flower. It is small and well-behaved, growing 1-2 feet tall and taking up about 1-2 feet of space in the garden. The green lance-shaped leaves are slightly hairy as are the stiff stems. The ray flowers topping the stems are naturally bright yellow to orange, but cultivars are available in many colors including white, pink and red. The inflorescences contain outer ray flowers surrounding central disc flowers like a daisy or sunflower. Cultivars can be found that have many more ray flowers than disc flowers, resulting in a puffier flower head with less pollen and more “petals”.

Calendula in the Garden

Calendula is a short-lived perennial above USDA zone 9 that acts like an annual in cooler climates.

Calendula prefer rich, well drained soil and full sun

Calendula enjoys full sun in well-drained, nutrient rich soil, though it will often tolerate less than perfect conditions. It can be direct sown or started indoors but should not be put in the ground until all danger of frost has passed in the spring, when soil temperatures have reached 60 degrees F. They should be planted at least 12 inches apart- avoid overcrowding to ensure good airflow between plants.

Though calendula will wilt in excessive heat, it doesn’t usually need a lot of water once its established. A hard frost will kill it.

Calendula is an excellent companion for flowering garden plants as it attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects. It is used as food by cabbage moths, gothic moths, large yellow underwing, Xestia c-nigrum,

Calendula does grow well in pots. It needs to be fed with a liquid based fertilizer once a month, but do take care not to overwater it.

The plant will start blooming about two months after its unique C-shaped seeds sprout and it will continue blooming until it gets too hot in the summer- when it will often recover if you nurse it through with some shade and early morning waterings to continue into autumn until it is killed by your first hard frost.

Calendula in the Kitchen

The flowers and leaves of calendula make a peppery addition to salads- though, honestly they aren’t very tasty. The flower petals can also be cooked with rice to give it that bright yellow “saffron” color, though the flavor is not similar. Likewise, these bright yellow petals can be used as a food-safe dye in many edible and cosmetic recipes. It may also be fed to chickens to encourage bright yellow yolks.

The petals are often dried for storage. Snip the entire flower head in the morning after the dew has dried- this will encourage more flowering later. Place the flowers face down on a screen to dry until they are papery and crisp. I remove the ray petals for storage and keep them in a glass jar inside the cupboard and out of the light. I feed the discs to the chickens.

Calendula officinalis for Healing

Calendula is rich in plant esters and carotenoids and is anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory.

Calendula oil is used in many skin products. It is a simple oil infusion that is wonderful for inflamed, cracked skin- especially sensitive skin. It soothes eczema, razer burn, sun damage and other irritations.

Calendula salve is a common addition to the herbal first aid kit for burns and scrapes and  too soothe, irritated hands from too much washing and rough heels, elbows, etc. and ragged cuticles. It also makes a great lip balm.

The leaves and flowers can be used in a poultice for minor cuts and abrasions.

I like the combination of calendula and plantain for wound healing.

Calendula Magick

If you enchant and apply makeup with intention as your sword and shield- calendula should be part of your skin care routine. Its firey, energetic nature and bright sunny disposition lends itself very well to that sort of magick. Calendula’s sun energy demands attention and claims authority. Make yourself a calendula oil infusion with intention and make this a base for moisturizers and other skin care products, applied with ritual.

Calendula’s protective nature lies in the fact that it is just so sunny that negative energy wilts in the face of it. Plant it around your home, near the door, place fresh flowers in vases around the house or sprinkle the petals around the perimeter to encourage joyful energy that grumps and doldrums can’t defeat. Kitchen witches: using the petals to bring their bright yellow color to your dishes will have similar effect. You can also add it to teas. The same effect helps re-energize a sick room and its patient to encourage recovery after a long illness.

Calendula is also associated with expanding psychic awareness and prophetic dreams. It is a strongly solar plant and the sun sees all and its light reveals all. To encourage prophetic dreams or to receive answers to your questions in your dreams, considering bring calendula to your evening ritual. You can use it in a night cream, drink it in a tea with other dreaming herbs with complementary attributes, or add it to a dream pillow. Use calendula in exactly the same way to protect dreamers from nightmares and other nighttime terrors.

CAUTION: Anyone can be allergic to anything. Those who suffer from hay fever may find they are more sensitive to calendula. Use with caution and the usual skin patch test.

Find Calendula Online

Pot Marigold at Alchemy Works https://www.alchemy-works.com/calendula_officinalis.html#gsc.tab=0

Strictly Medicinal Seeds https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/product/calendula-orange-calendula-officinalis-packet-of-50-seeds-organic/