Calendula

Common Name

Calendula, bride of the sun, bull flower, butterwort, common marigold, drunkard, English marigold, field marigold, garden marigold, golding, gold bloom, golds, gowlan, hen and chickens, holligold, husbandman’s dial, mally gowl, marigold, marybud, marygold, mary’s gold, poet’s marigold, poor man’s saffron, pot marigold, prophetic marigold, ringflower, ruddes, ruddles, Scotch marigold, Scottish marigold, summer’s bride, sunflower, throughout-the-months

Family

Asteraceae/Compositae

Chinese Medicine Name

Jin zhan ju

Ayurvedic Name

None

Parts Used

Flowers

Actions

Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, chologogue, hemostatic, lymphatic, vulnerary

Energetics

Warming

Edible Uses

Calendula flowers are edible and often eaten raw in salads, dried in seasonings or used as ornamental additions. It is used for tea. The leaves are also edible however bitter and unpalatable for most people. The orange leaves may be used to substitute for saffron coloring but should not be used as a substitute for taste. 

Native To

Calendula is widely cultivated. It has also become naturalized throughout the world in more temperate climates.

Geographic Distribution

Naturalized worldwide

Botanical Description & Identification 

Calendula is a flowering plant that usually grows from 12-24 inches in height. It is naturally a perennial plant although is usually grown as an annual. Its resin content gives it a sticky texture. The plant has a sticky texture due to its resin content. Its leaves are oblong and lance-like, hairy on both sides, and usually grow from 2-7 inches long. Calendula is not a plant native to North America although it is easy to grow most places. It re-seeds itself. 

Key Constituents

Flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins, volatile oil, carotenoids, phenolic acids, resin, sterols, tannin, amino acids, mucilage and polysaccharides 

Sustainability Issues

There are no known sustainability issues for this plant.

Harvesting Guidelines

Harvesting calendula blossoms regularly (every 2-3 days) during its blooming period helps to encourage further growth. It is a continuously blooming plant, taking only sparingly, quick breaks, from spring through fall. Some herbalists suggest using only the flower petals while others prefer the entire flower head but it seems to come down to mere preference as all parts of the flower contain its constituents. Make sure to pick them only after the morning dew has dried to avoid mold issues.