Calendula officinalis

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Plant
ID 188 Calendula officinalis
Botanic Name Calendula officinalis
Common Name English or Pot Marigold
Family Name Asteraceae
Cultivars 'Fiesta Gitana','Honey Babe','Orange Cupid','Princess','Gold Mine','Camp Fire','Apricot Queen','Art Shades','Pacific Beauty'
Origin Southern Europe, 1573, Zone 6-11
Growth Type Annual
Bark Type Soft wooded
Foliage Type Deciduous Water Use Medium
No. of Species 20
Growth Habit Spreading-ascending Growth Rate Fast
Height 0.4 - 0.6 m (1 - 2 ft) Spread 0.5 m (2 ft)
Plant Overview
This annual has thick weak stems that form a shrubby well-branched mounded habit. It has light green broad lanced-shaped leaves and the yellow to orange daisy-like flowers appear above the foliage from spring to summer.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Oblanceolate
The 150 mm (6 in) long by 60 mm (2 3/8 in) wide strongly scented sessile leaves are oblanceolate to oblong and clasp the stem. The apex is obtuse to acute and the texture is soft (sparsely woolly).
Arrangement Alternate
Margin Ciliate
Colour Light green
Size 80 - 150 mm ( 3.1 - 5.9 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Tubulate
The 100 mm (4 in) wide radiate flower heads are held above the foliage on a short peduncle. The flowers can be semi-double or double and appear from spring to summer or throughout the year in warm climates.
Inflorescence Capitulum
Colour Red - yellow
Size 80 - 100 mm ( 3.1 - 3.9 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Cypsela Additional Information
Colour Brown
The cypsela is large flattened or curved and is usually removed during cultivation. The seed are small with 150 per gram and are viable.
Edible No
Bird Attractive Yes
Size 1 - 2 mm ( 0.0 - 0.1 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained, organic rich-poor, moist sandy to clay loam, pH 6.0-7.5
Container Pot, tubs, planter boxes
Climate Temperate
Aspect Full sun to part shade,wind protection, frost tolerant, drought tender
Pest & Diseases Leaf miner, rust, powdery mildew, budworm, caterpillars, aphids, leaf spot
Fertiliser Complete fertiliser for larger flowers, 100g per m2, liquid fertilise fortnightly during summer
Pruning Remove old flowers and cut back to a node to promote additional blooms, moderately deer resistant
Cultural Uses Propagation
Pot Marigold is grown for its daisy-like flowers and its low bushy habit. It is commonly mass planted for bedding displays in parks and large gardens or used along borders in cottage gardens. It is also cultivated in pots and planter boxes.
Sow fresh seed during autumn in boxes or directly in a prepared bed. Space the plants 25 mm to 300 mm (1 ft) apart. It takes up to 10 weeks to develop flowers from seed.
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