Calendula officinalis: On-trend color. Butterfly magnet. Beneficial insect attractant. Medicinal value. Classic companion plant. Tough-as-nails.

The benefits of calendula for the garden, environment, and human are many.

Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is one of the must-have plants for any garden.

Calendula is a favorite plant in regenerative agriculture and gardening practices. It’s easy to grow from seed, and offers gardeners a way to enhance soil health. Also, it attracts pollinators and is a classic companion plant.

Calendula is one of those fool-proof plants that will thrive in any condition. Got drought? Not an issue. Got tough clay soil or too loose sandy soil? No problem. Tight spacing? It will still grow. Container gardening? It’s called pot marigold for good reason!

Calendula is a must-have plant for permaculture and regenerative gardens.

In this article, you’ll learn about:

• Calendula’s range of growing conditions
• The many cultivars of calendula, and which ones you should grow based on your goals and growing zone
• Calendula’s regenerative properties for soil and compost
• Calendula as a companion plant for natural pest control
• Calendula as a pollinator friendly plant and butterfly attractant
• How to grow calendula from seed
• The medicinal value of calendula

Ideal Growing Conditions

Calendula isn’t too different from most plants in that it enjoys healthy well-drained soil and access to regular watering.

However, calendula can still thrive in not-so-ideal conditions.

In my own garden, I’ve seen calendula thrive in our heavy clay soil lawn surrounding the garden. It’s come up in small cracks between pavers, too. These areas do not get watered during our very dry summers, and yet the calendula still grows and blooms.

How to grow Calendula from Seed: From Sowing to Harvest

Starting calendula from seed is extremely easy.

It also allows you to plant a variety of calendula cultivars to meet your needs and goals in the garden.

When to sow calendula

Calendula seeds and plants don’t mind a light frost here and there. Don’t worry too much about your plants getting damaged by a late frost event.

Calendula seeds are large compared to most flowers. They will need to be buried around 1 inch into the soil for best results.

With the way calendula reseeds itself in the garden, some surface sowing doesn’t bother it all too much.

How far apart to plant calendula

My calendula plants do best when they are 8-10 inches apart.

However, I’ve grown calendula in tight clusters where plants were almost on top of one another. They still bloomed abundantly.

When they self-sow, many seeds will fall in the same place. From that, many plants will germinate close together.

Close spacing can cause fungal issues like powdery mildew. This disease is an issue in wet or coastal climates.

In my dry summer climate, I do not have powdery mildew issues with close plantings of calendula.

Calendula plants don’t need a ton of spacing to grow and bloom. Yet, the more space they have, the more robust they will grow.

Calendula Growing Notes for Regenerative Gardens

Calendula is a very low-fuss plant. According to Utah State University, it doesn’t need fertilizer to thrive. It’s perfect for dry gardening since it can handle low levels of rainfall.

These are some of the benefits that make it a perfect choice for regenerative gardens.

For best results, mulch around your calendula plants once they are established. This will protect the soil and the plants from the heat of the summer, and prevent water evaporation.

If any pests come to your calendula, don’t worry too much. These pests will bring in beneficial insects, who will then munch on other pests in your garden.

I personally haven’t had calendula pest issues where the pest impacted my harvest of flowers.

When to harvest calendula flowers

→ Note that the type of calendula that is most studied for human benefit are the resinous full orange and yellow varieties, such as Calendula Resina, Pacific Beauty, Alpha, and Orange Zinger/Erfurter Orangefarbige.

Calendula blooms will appear 2-3 months after germination.

Calendula is a type of plant that will continue to produce flowers as long as you pick them off. You can get a decent harvest from just a few plants.

I like to pick calendula after all the morning dew has evaporated, but before the heat of the summer day kicks in. At this point, any flowers that are open and still fresh are perfect for harvesting.

Harvest until the blooms stop producing, which could be after your first frost.

Your fingers will become delightfully sticky as you harvest the resinous blooms!

How to dry calendula for tea

Take all the freshly picked calendula flowers and place them in a single layer on a drying rack. I use a multi-tiered hanging mesh rack like this one from Gardener’s Supply.

In my dry summer environment, the calendula flowers are ready after 2-3 weeks of drying. Then, they can be placed in fully dry glass containers.

Store your calendula in a dry place away from direct sunlight.

The gorgeous orange blossoms will stay vibrant even after they've been dried for a year.

How to save seed from calendula

To save seed, you’ll need to let some flowers go past prime towards the end of the growing season.

A few weeks before your first frost, hold back on harvesting some of your calendula blooms. The petals will fall off to reveal a greenish seedpod. Let that seedpod dry out on the plant until it turns brown and isn’t sticky to the touch.

Each individual “curl” is 1 seed.

Harvest the seeds and let them dry in a well ventilated area for a few days. Then, store them in envelopes in a cool and dry location.

Plant them out next year after your last frost. You’ll probably still have some “surprise” calendula plants coming up in your garden to add to the fun!

Calendula Cultivars and Colors

Orange:

Resina: Has a high resin content for medicinal use. The resin is also an insect attractant/repellant in the garden. Two layers of petals, color varies from yellow to orange. Hardy and unfazed by light frosts. Available at Adaptive Seeds.

Alpha: High resin content, looks similar to Resina but all flowers will be orange. Available at Siskiyou Seeds.

Erfurter Orangefarbige aka Orange Zinger: Has a high resin content for medicinal use. Also an insect attractant/repellant in the garden. Long stems for cut flowers. May have higher resin content than Resina. Lots of layers of petals. Available at Adaptive Seeds or Nature & Nurture Seeds.

Radio: Unique looking orange flower that has petals curled in half so that they look like quills. This variety is from the 1930’s. Available at Wild Garden Seed.

Shades of Pink:

Solar Flashback: Gorgeous pink flowers with deep fuschia and yellow edges. All Flashback varieties originate with Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seed. He named them “flashback” for the flashy color on the undersides of the flower petals. Available at Wild Garden Seeds or Swallow tail Garden Seeds.

Triangle Flashback: Also known as Zeolights. Range of pinks, with some yellow color towards the center of the bloom. Available at Wild Garden Seeds, Swallow Tail Garden Seeds or Uprising Organics.

Bronzed Beauty: Similar to Triangle flashback but with bronzy-red edges and underpetals. Available at Swallow tail Garden Seeds or Adaptive Seeds.

Yellow Tones:

Greenheart Gold: Lovely yellow petals surround a soft green center. Available at Redemption Seeds.

Princess Nagasaki: A cultivar with many layers of pure yellow petals. Center is also yellow. Available at Wild Garden Seed.

Fruit Twist: Dwarf plant with single or double blooms. Flowers range from very pale yellow to deep orange. Available at Swallow tail Garden Seeds.

Ivory Princess: White to soft yellow blooms, perhaps the closest color to white in a calendula. Available at Swallow tail Garden Seeds.

-Utah State University, Swallow tail Garden Seeds

Other species of calendula:

Calendula arvenis: Field marigold. Short annual flower

Calendula suffruticosa: Woody marigold. Taller perennial plant with yellow flowers.

Calendula stellata: Sicilian marigold.

Calendula tripterocarpa: Three winged marigold.

-JCDR, CCMP, Malta Wild Plants 1, Malta Wild Plants 2, Flora of Israel.

Are Calendula and Marigold the Same?

Calendula Health Benefits and Constituents

A review article published in 2022 outlines the many benefits of calendula.

Calendula has been contains high levels of:

• carotenoids (antioxidant; beta carotene)
• flavonoids (antioxidants)
• quinines (antibacterial)
• amino acids (building blocks of life; supports healing)

Increase the Medicinal Benefits of Calendula with Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture enhances the medicinal value of calendula plants.

An article in Forbes profiles the skin care company, True Botanicals, in a feature on regenerative agriculture.

Hillary Peterson is the founder of this company. She compared the properties of calendula oils grown on standard depleated soils versus regeneratively grown calendula. The color profile of the standard oil is yellow, almost the color of a weak chamomile tea. The regeneratively farmed calendula oil is a rich bright orange color.

What can you do with calendula flowers?

There are many things that you can do with calendula for yourself in your kitchen.

Warning: If you are allergic to plants in the daisy, aster, echinacea, and chamomile family, don’t attempt to interact with calendula in any way, topically or internally.

Calendula Tea

To make a calendula tisane, place 2-3 (or more!) tablespoons of dried calendula blooms into a french press. Alternatively, place them at the bottom of a tea cup.

Pour almost-boiling hot water over the calendula. Cover and let steep for 10-20 minutes. Strain if necessary. Add some milk of choice if you wish, and enjoy.

For an extra tasty treat, mix 3 tablespoons of calendula with 3 tablespoons dried chamomile.

Calendula Compress

In my Community Herbalist Training at CommonWealth Holistic Herb School, I’ve learned that calendula is a great topical remedy for any minor wounds, stings, or skin ailments.

To make a calendula compress, you essentially make a tisane as outlined above. Then, let the tea cool so that it’s no longer hot to the touch. I prefer to let it come down to room temperature.

Next, take a cloth and soak it in the herbal infusion. Apply the wet cloth to areas of irritation on the skin.

I’ve worked with a calendula compress in this way for wasp stings and minor burns.

Calendula as Saffron Substitute

The resinous orange petals of calendula add a similar color and taste to dishes as saffron. In fact, “poor man’s saffron” is another name for calendula due to this unique property.

Next time a recipe calls for saffron, add some fresh or dried orange calendula petals instead.

Calendula as a Regenerative Gardening Crop

Plants for a Future notes that besides to heavy clay soils, calendula can also grow in sandy soils. It also thrives in areas that are otherwise not very fertile. It can grow in locations that have acidic or alkaline soil pH levels as well.

This makes calendula an excellent plant to sow where nothing else seems to grow.

In the same way that calendula can be a salve for skin irritations and wounds, it can also be a salve of sorts for the soil.

In a way, you can plant calendula as a cover crop in poor soil. Let it self sow, and after it grows 8-10 inches, mulch the area with its leaves. Watch how the plant regenerates itself after its cut back to provide more green material!

This will help your soil to have organic matter added to it. As a bonus, the roots of the calendula will help to break up clay soil. The roots, when they decompose, can also add organic matter to clay and sandy soils alike.

As mentioned above, calendula is perfect for dry gardens, and is a low-input plant. It does not need fertilizer to thrive.

Calendula Companion Planting for Organic Pest Control

Calendula for Squash Bugs

Pam Zaklan, Master Gardener through Oregon State Extension Service, has been experimenting with companion planting in her own garden for over 50 years.

She’s found that calendula can help deter squash bugs from winter squash. The odor of the flowers isn’t enjoyed by the squash bugs, and they also probably mask the scent of the squash plants.

Calendula Companion for Aphids

Pam also plants calendulas as a trap crop for aphids. She has found that calendulas planted next to roses or lettuce keeps the them aphid-free. Instead, the aphids flock to the calendula plants.

Calendula + Brassicas for Cabbage Lopper Control

Master Gardener Claudia Steen, MS, with Washington State University notes that calendula attracts parasitic wasps and hoverflies.**

These two beneficial insects eat cabbage loppers. This makes calendula a great companion plant for cruciferous crops to prevent damage.

Thrip Control

Frank Morton, renowned plant cultivator at Wild Garden Seed, shares that calendula attracts minute pirate bugs, which in turn eat thrips.

Calendula flowers for nematode control

While some nematodes are beneficial, others can cause problems in the garden.

According to a study published in Plant Pathology, calendula flowers applied to nematode infested soil decreases the population. The flowers have a reproduction-halting effect, which caused up to a 95% reduction in the pest!

Permaculture + Calendula

One of the principles of permaculture is to have multiple functions from each plant. With the variety of benefits that calendula has in the garden and for humans, this plant is a great option for permaculture gardens.

As Washington College mentions, calendula provides a habitat for butterflies, bees, and beneficial insects.

For humans, calendula can be made into a tea, applied topically in salves or compresses, or added to baths and foot soaks.

Calendula has been traditionally utilized as a dye plant, offering yellow and orange hues.

Calendula self-sows readily in the garden so once you plant it, you don’t need to do much work to get it to show up in successive seasons.

Calendula as Compost Inoculant

Calendula’s self-sowing tendencies will yield you an abundance of the plant in future seasons. You’ll have so much calendula that you can use the foliage as green material in your compost.

In my garden, I’m able to chop back calendula foliage to use as compost material or mulch. If the roots are left in place, the calendula will grow back, providing more foliage in a few week’s time.

PFAF mentions that the compost activator “Quick Return” as outlined in Commonsense Compost Making includes calendula flowers to support the decomposition process.

Calendula Flowers: A plethora of benefits

Calendula is far more than just a pretty addition to the garden. It’s a dream for regenerative or permaculture gardeners. It has healing properties for the herbalist, soil health support for the regenerative gardener, and pest control for the organic advocate.

If you are looking for a new plant to add biodiversity and vibrance into your garden, look no further than Calendula officinalis.