Calendula
(cah-LEN-du-lah. Aster family, Asteraceae.)
Commonly called pot marigolds, Calendula species are annuals or woody-based perennials with single or double daisylike flowers and aromatic leaves. The flowers have petals, more properly called ray florets, in shades of yellow or orange, with centers (disk florets) in yellow, orange, purple or brown. The genus contains some 20 to 30 species native to the Mediterranean and North Africa, one of which is a popular annual.
How To Grow
Full sun or light shade and average, well-drained soil is ideal. Plants tolerate poor, relatively dry soil and are best in areas with cool summers. Sow seeds outdoors several weeks before the last spring frost date. Or sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date at 45 to 50 degrees F at night, and no more than 55 to 60 degrees F during the daytime; seedlings grown at warmer temperatures tend to be floppy and weak. Sow in a sterile seed-starting medium and water from below to prevent damping off, which can be a problem. When sowing, cover the seeds with soil, as darkness is required for germination.
Germination takes up to 2 weeks. Also sow seeds in midsummer for fall bloom. In mild climates (Zone 8 and warmer), sow in late summer for winter and early spring bloom. If plants begin dying out due to summer heat, cut them back hard, and they will resume growth when cooler weather returns. Use pot marigolds in beds and borders, in containers and in the herb garden. The flowers attract butterflies and have edible petals: Add them fresh to salads or use them as a substitute for saffron and to add color to cakes and other desserts. The flowers are ideal for cutting.
C. officinalis
c. off-fish-in-NAL-iss. Pot Marigold.
A fast-growing, 1- to 2½-foot species with lance- to spoon-shaped leaves and single or double daisylike flowers in shades of yellow, orange, apricot and cream. Many cultivars are available including ‘Bon Bon’ series, 1-foot dwarf selections and ‘Prince’ series, ideal for cutting at 2- to 2-½ -feet tall. Cool-weather annual.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE ONLY AUTHOR’S NOTE
(Text does not appear in book.)
Calendula Cultivars
Orange or yellow pot marigolds are most often seen in gardens, but to get the most from these easy-to-grow, cool-season annuals, look beyond the packets of mixed-color seeds available everywhere seeds are sold. For cut flower use, stay away from dwarf cultivars because they won't have long enough stems to arrange easily. 'Pacific Beauty' mix plants bear showy, reach 1-½ feet in height. One advantage of this mix is that some companies offer the colors separately, making it easy to plant drifts of a single color or plan bouquets in advance. Colors include lemon, gold, apricot and several shades of orange, including one with red-orange petals that are red on the reverse.
Other calendula cultivars to consider:
'Touch of Red' mix - These are 14-inch tall plants with double, 3-inch wide flowers in yellow, cream, red-orange or orange. The petals are mahogany red on the back, giving the flowers a handsome bicolor appearance.
'Cheddar Dwarf' mix - Plants of this mix developed in Germany are 10 to 15 inches tall and bear single or double 2- to 2-½-inch wide flowers with reddish brown centers. Colors are paler than other mixes, emphasizing creamy yellows and oranges.
'Pink Surprise' - Produces 2-foot plants bearing soft orange flowers blushed with pink.
'Greenheart Orange' - Pale orange petals surrounding prominent lime-green centers. Plants are 18 to 24 inches tall, and flowers are 2 inches wide.
'Kablouna' mix - Gold, pale yellow, orange and apricot with very prominent, crested centers that are darker than the petals. Flowers are 2 inches wide and plants are 20 inches tall.
'Fiesta' - Produces bushy, vigorous, 12-inch tall plants bearing 2-inch wide flowers in the full range of pot marigold colors. More vigorous than 'Bon Bon' mix, which bears slightly larger 2-½-inch flowers.
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The above copyrighted information is adapted with permission from the "Taylor’s Guide to Annuals: How to select and grow more than 400 annuals, biennials, and tender perennials," (Houghton Mifflin, 1999, softcover) written by Barbara W. Ellis and published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. The Exclusive Online Only Author's Note comes directly from Ellis and is not included in the book.
Ellis is also the author of "Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants: A detailed, how-to-grow guide to selecting, planting, and caring for the best classic plants." (Houghton Mifflin, 1998, softcover). Country Living magazine called this comprehensive reference "The 'must-have' gardening book of the year."
For more information about these books, please visit your local bookseller.
Images provided by Houghton Mifflin Company.