Today’s Flower – English Pot Marigold
Calendula officinalis
(ka-LEN-dew-luh) (oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss)
This group of Calendula did great this year but they pretty much do that every year. One of the criteria for me liking a flower is how easy it is to grow and Calendula is a flower that almost thrives on neglect so that is a big plus for it. The colors are very bright and cheery and there are more cultivars coming out. We often grow them from seed, which is easy or buy the started plants in the spring. Both work equally well.
For some gardeners Calendulas seed themselves too much. I actually like that and encourage to self-sow. Another nice attribute is the fact the flowers can last through a few light frosts and can be one of the last annuals left blooming in the garden. The blossoms can be eaten and they are also used to treat headaches and some heart conditions. The ‘pot’ in the common name is from that fact it was used to make puddings in the 16th century. Today there is a wide variety of uses in the cosmetic industry. You can see the flowers sometimes in salads but I have never eaten one.
