Just before the weather gets warm enough for real marigolds, and after the weather starts to get too cool and rainy for them, pot marigold, Calendula officinalis, is at its best. It can bloom at any time of year, depending on when it gets planted, but prefers cool and humid spring and autumn weather. It is not so keen on frost in winter, or the arid warmth of summer that real marigolds enjoy.
They are just as versatile as real marigolds are, and work nicely in pots, but they are known as pot marigold because of their history as culinary herbs. They also have medicinal applications, and can bu used for dye. Mature plants do not often get bigger than a foot tall and wide, with somewhat coarse light green foliage. The two or three inch wide flowers are bright yellow or orange, and can sometimes be double.
Tony Tomeo 
Lovely flower….used extensively in spiritual work, especially with eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhist as a flower essence it protects and calms the soul…especially during times of transition and change.
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It is also used herbally, as well as hen feed, to make egg yolks brighter yellow. It has a few more uses than as a mere ornamental flower.
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It is a jolly flower…didn’t realise it was used for egg yolks. I have the orange one here…self seeds everywhere!
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That is how I first met pot marigold when I was a kid. I did not plant it. It just self sowed in the garden.
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Mine are doing well so far and one even survived from last winter! It looked dead and started sprouting again.
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One of mine stayed hidden under the other perennials, and came back in spring (a few years ago). I did not know they could do that so easily. I did not try to grow it as a perennial.
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Calendula is a lovely old-fashioned flower that I love to have in my garden. It also comes in pale yellow or apricot, and a variety that has red on the backs of the petals. It is wonderful in a skin healing salve. Thanks for bringing attention to a cheerful old flower that should be grown more widely.
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Oh, I neglected to write about those. Calendula is not as popular here as other annuals are. Most are yellow or orange single flowers. Marigolds are still more popular here.
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Calendula and pot marigold are the same plant, or am I misunderstanding your comment?
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Calendula and pot marigold are the same. I neglected to write about the pale yellow and apricot colored varieties, or those with red on the back sides of the petals. The ones that are more popular here are the common marigold (not ‘pot’ marigold), which are species of Tagetes.
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Got it! Those paler versions are my fave shades. And I love calendula seeds – the most interesting of any plant I know. I do love the little dime-sized tagetes, and their citrusy scent.
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I love these–aside from the fact the blossoms are good in salad–they are the early and late flowers. I have cut them for bouquets as late as December and early January and I just love love the shape of them and their lovely leaves.
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Yes, early and late. It would be nice if they would go through summer as well, but there are plenty of other annuals for that.
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Calendulas are beautiful. I don’t use them because they don’t seem happy in our hot, humid summers.
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Yes, they would mildew and roast at the same time!
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Thus is one of my all time favourites! I use Calendula officinalis in so many herbal preparations and teas…it is a gentle, lovely, colourful powerhouse!
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Oh, I should have guessed! Everyone who knows herbs knows this one! My neighbor really likes it for that reason, although I do not understand why it is so good for tea. It does not taste like much to me. I suppose flavor is not the main benefit.
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