Calendula

What does Calendula look like?

Calendula plants are herbaceous and can be annual or perennial. Their flowers look like small daisies, usually in golden yellow or orange shades, sometimes producing honey, gold, or light brown tones when used as dye. The petals are edible and have a mildly sweet but slightly bitter taste, which becomes stronger when dried. The most familiar species, Calendula officinalis, is often called pot-marigold and is widely grown in gardens.

Where does Calendula come from?

Calendula is native to a broad region including the Mediterranean, Europe, North Africa, Macaronesia, West Asia, and the Western Himalayas, with its greatest variety in the Mediterranean area. The name comes from Latin, meaning 'little calendar' or 'little clock.' The common name 'marigold' is a contraction of 'Mary's gold,' especially linked to Calendula officinalis and its early Christian associations. Calendula has been used since ancient Greek and Roman times in rituals and ceremonies, and its flowers have long decorated statues of Hindu deities in India.

When and how Calendula blooms

Calendula flowers bloom on herbaceous plants, which can be grown from seed in garden beds or pots. They thrive in temperate climates and are valued for their long flowering period. The petals can be picked fresh for salads or dried for use as a colorant or in herbal preparations. The plant is also grown for its use as a dye and in traditional remedies.

How Calendula is used

Calendula flowers are used in many ways: as edible petals in salads, broths, and stews, and as a substitute for saffron. They are also used to color cheese and other foods. In ceremonies, the flowers are made into garlands and crowns, especially in Hindu and early Christian traditions. Calendula is used in herbal ointments for skin care and has a history of use in folk medicine, though its medicinal value is considered modest. The plant can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Kinds of Calendula

The genus Calendula includes about 15–20 species. Notable ones are Calendula officinalis (pot marigold), Calendula arvensis (field marigold), and Calendula maritima (sea marigold). Calendula officinalis is the most widely grown and used, while others like field marigold and sea marigold are found wild in their native regions.

What Calendula means

Calendula has played a role in rituals from ancient Rome and Greece to early Christian and Hindu ceremonies. The flowers are sacred in India and are used to decorate statues of deities. In English and Dutch cuisine, Calendula petals were once a common ingredient. The plant is sometimes called 'poor man's saffron' for its use as a colorant. Calendula is also linked to magical traditions and folk rituals.

Where Calendula is used and seen

OnamKerala’s ten-day harvest festival with flower carpets, feasts and boat racesDay of the DeadMexico’s festival of remembrance with altars, marigolds, and sugar skullsTếtVietnam's spring new year festival with flowers, family, and lucky customsDa LatVietnam’s highland city famous for flowers, cool climate, and French villasCut flowersFresh flowers and buds trimmed for decoration and displayToranA festive hanging of flowers and leaves for Hindu doorways and celebrationsRose and Jasmine GardenA public garden in Islamabad with hundreds of rose and jasmine varietiesPalm SundayChristian festival with palms or local branches marking Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem

Questions people ask about Calendula

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Calendula on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data