Calendula or Pot Marigold

Calendula (lat. Calendula) — a genus of herbaceous flowering plants of the family Asteraceae (Asteraceae). The genus includes about 20 species native to the Mediterranean, Western Europe and the Near East.

In cultivation: Pot marigold (lat. Calendula officinalis)

An annual erect plant 20-75 cm tall. Root a taproot. Shoots thick, ribbed, light green, covered with sticky glandular hairs. Leaves simple, alternate, light green, elongate or oval, sparsely covered with stiff hairs.

Inflorescences — flower heads (capitula) 5—6 cm in diameter. Ligulate (ray) florets — yellow or orange, glossy above, matte on the underside; tubular florets — small, yellow, orange or dark brown. Fruits — achenes of various shapes and sizes. Flowers from June until autumn frosts. Fruits ripen in July—September.

Most common cultivars:

'Goldgelb' ('Goldgelb')

Plant habit spreading, 50-60 cm tall, densely branched. Shoots rounded, light green. Leaves large, oblong, widening towards the tip, light green. Inflorescences double and semi-double, 5-6 cm in diameter, ligulate florets spatulate, golden-yellow, recurved at the tips; tubular florets golden-yellow, small, narrowly funnel-shaped.

'Gold Kеnig' ('Gold Kеnig')

Plant compact, 35-45 cm tall, moderately leafy. Shoots sturdy, ribbed. Leaves large, oblong, light green. Inflorescences double and semi-double, 4-5 cm in diameter, ligulate florets elongated, spatulate, golden-yellow; tubular florets pinkish-brown.

'Orange Kеnig' ('Orange Kеnig')

Plant spreading, 40-50 cm tall, densely leaved. Shoots ribbed, light green. Leaves large, elongated, light green. Inflorescences double and semi-double, 7-8 cm in diameter, dense, imbricate; ligulate florets bright orange with a yellow base, glossy; tubular florets dark orange.

'Radio' ('Radio')

Plant compact, 35-45 cm tall. Shoots sturdy, strongly ribbed. Leaves large, oblong with pronounced veins, light green. Inflorescences hemispherical, double and semi-double, 6-8 cm in diameter. Ligulate florets bright orange, rolled into a tube for up to half their length, yellow-orange at the base; tubular florets yellow-orange.

'Sensation' ('Sensation')

Plant compact up to 45 cm tall. Shoots thick, ribbed, dark green. Leaves large, oblong, dark green. Inflorescences double and semi-double, 7-8 cm in diameter, imbricate; ligulate florets large, glossy, bright orange; tubular florets yellow.

'Juwel' ('Juwel')

Plant compact, almost spherical, 40-50 cm tall. Shoots irregularly five-angled, light green. Leaves large, broad, oblong, light green. Inflorescences double and semi-double, 5-8 cm in diameter, flat; ligulate florets salmon-orange; tubular florets yellow.

Location: a sunny site; tolerates frosts down to -5°C.

Soil: attains greatest ornamental effect on fertile, sufficiently moist, well-drained soils.

Care: water during prolonged dry and hot periods. Plants are fed every 2 weeks with a solution of a complete mineral fertilizer. To extend flowering, faded flower heads should be removed.

Propagation: by seed in spring. Can be sown in autumn. Very easily propagated by self-seeding.