I grow Calendula officinalis every year from seed. It’s a hardy annual with big curved seeds. They are very easy to grow… so if you have small children who would like to grow their own flowers then these are just perfect. This year I have grown several different types of Calendula.
Colours range from pale lemon to deep orange and every shade in between. The only drawback with Calendula flowers as far as I can tell is that they have no scent. You can easily get around that! Here are some I picked from my garden popped into a little metal pot with s few sprigs of scented honeysuckle.
Commonly known as Marigolds, Calendulas are native to warmer countries. They grow wild in western Europe, the Mediterranean and south west Asia. They thrive here in the UK and will probably grow happily in most other countries as long as you can give them the conditions they need. They like a spot in full sun with free draining soil. My soil is heavy clay but I grow my sun loving annuals in a purpose built raised bed or in large pots on my patio.
A compact Calendula is Daisy Mix. It’s short which makes it ideal for edging or patio pots and like most Marigolds it flowers it’s head off. These plants are covered with many daisy-like flowers in all shades of yellow for at least three months. You can float the flower heads in a bowl of water if the stalks are too short for a vase.
Their bright flowers provide a nice contrast to other plants. Here they are growing behind a clump of Salvia viridis… Clary Sage.
Taller varieties include Calendula Touch of Red, Sunset Buff and Indian Prince. These will all grow to about 45cm to 50cm /18-20 inches tall and are good for cutting if you want flowers in the house.
Calendula Touch of Red has blooms in soft shades with a clear red edge to the petals. It’s good for picking.
Most Important: All Calendulas will flower for a long time… if you pick the flowers every day or you’ll need to remove the flowers once they have faded. Once they set seed that’s it, flowering is over.
Marigolds are on my list of BEST HARDY ANNUALS to grow.
Calendulas are worth growing for many reasons. They are fast, easy, prolific flowering and will give your garden a country garden style. What’s more Marigold flowers are edible. You can add the petals to salads and even make tea from dried petals… they have properties that kill cancer cells I’ve heard. Even if you don’t eat them I can thoroughly recommend them!
I’m joining in with Judith for Mosaic Monday today at Lavender Cottage. Just click the link to see more.
Happy Gardening! Gillian 🙂
Very nice photos. Calendula is my birthday flower.
Thanks Gayle!
Wonderfully bright and beautiful colors!!! Lovely post!
Thanks very much Cathy. This is how I see the world!
Gorgeous flowers and arrangements. Lovely images and mosaics. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!
Thanks Eileen. Wishing you a very Happy Monday too.
Very pretty! I love marigolds and all the various colors. Happy Monday!
They are lovely aren’t they. Wishing you a very happy week too.
Well who knew? When i think of calendula they are just orange, all look the same…my grandmother grew those kind. I didn’t realize there was such a lovely stunning variety as you have here 🙂
I think there about twenty or so Calendula species in all Debra, some of them perennials and lots of new annual varieties bred to have long stems for cutting.
Calendulas are such happy flowers! I did not add any to my annuals this year, must put them on my list again next year. Thanks for sharing your lovely images with us
Thanks for reading and commenting Linda.
Lovely, cheap and cheerful and how pretty for a vase.
Thanks very much Liz.
Lovely, I’ll have to try some of the different varieties. 🙂
I like them all! It’s hard to choose isn’t it Karen?
I have grown a plain orange calendula from seed given to me by a friend and they put on a good show of colour for a long time. You have some nice varieties in your garden which are pretty in the galvanized container.
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday Gillian.
Thanks for your comment Judith and thanks for hosting Mosaic Monday!
I love them as well! great images.
Thanks!
I never knew that marigolds were calendulas or that they come in such varieties. You made me want to order seed! I teach kindergarten and every spring we grow sunflowers to take home on Mothers Day. This year I think we will try calendulas. Thank you!
You are most welcome Karen. They are some of the rewarding plants to grow and it’s easy to collect seed when flowering is over. I’m sure your children will love their bright colours.
I didn’t seed any Calendula this year but thanks to a bird, probably, I have a beauty coming up in my patio. There’s no soil under it just gravel so how it’s doing so well I don’t know. I’ve had quite a few cut flowers from it and hopefully I’ll get some more. I will leave it seed eventually though so I can get some where I want them next year
Well they love free draining soil Gina… Lucky you!
These are wonderful Gillian…I am hopeful to grow many beautiful calendula in the future!
I’m glad I inspired you to have a go with these lovely plants Donna.
Your calendulas are very pretty. I have a few lemon marigolds in my garden, but I’m not that fond of orange. What’s not to love about a flower that will continue blooming for a very long time?
They are all lovely flowers to me Lorrie… even the orange ones!