Calendula officinalis Flower (09/05/2012, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Spring to autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 80cm
Eventual Spread: 80cm
Hardiness: 6a – 11
Family: Asteraceae
Calendula officinalis is a short lived perennial/ annual plant. Its mid green leaves simple, opposite, cuneate with entire margins, up to 17cm long, aromatic and are hairy on both sides. Its yellow/ orange flowers are compositae, solitary, up to 7cm in diameter surrounded by two rows of hairy bracts. Its fruit is a thorny curved achene.
Calendula officinalis, commonly known as Pot marigold, Common Marigold, Garden Marigold or English Marigold, is native to southern Europe though its long history of cultivation makes its precise origin unknown and may possibly be of garden origin. It is also widely naturalized further north in Europe. This plant has a long history of culinary and medicinal uses and has been use as a dye.
The etymological root of the binomial name Calendula is derived from the Latin calendae ’the first day of the month’, possibly alluding to the flowering of the plant throughout the year. Officinalis is derived from the Latin meaning ‘of the apothecaries’.
Calendula officinalis (09/05/2012, London)
The landscape architect may find Calendula officinalis useful in community and wildlife gardens.
Ecologically, C. officinalis is attractive to bees and pollinating insects. The leaves are the food plant of a number of moths.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given C. officinalis ’Fiesta Gitana’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
C. officinalis prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Calendula officinalis requires little maintenance.
