Calendula officinalis | Calendula Playtime Mix, Pot Marigold, Ringelblume

Calendula officinalis | Calendula Playtime Mix, Pot Marigold, Ringelblume

Asteraceae (Daisy and Sunflower Family) (Pronounced  ass-ter-AY-see-eye)

I am not crazy about Marigolds. I do not dislike them, but I prefer pinks and purples over oranges and yellows.

It is confusing to me the differences between Calendula and Marigold, and yet they are the same. The answer is the scientific name for Marigold is Tagetes and, therefore, it is Calendula differing from Tagetes, ignoring the common name of Marigold in both. The leaves of Tagetes are thinner and fern-like, and the petals are short, compact, and pompon-like. The leaves of Calendula are rounder, wider, and lance leaf shaped, and the petals are longer and more daisy-like. Tagetes have a recognizable pungent scent. Tagetes seeds are long and straight with white tips. Calendula seeds are u-shaped.

Calendula prefers cooler temperatures in the sun of the Spring and Autumn, and Tagetes love the sun and heat. That is why my Calendula are doing so well in the garden bed shaded by the fence, the Clematis, and the Weeping Cherry tree. Tagetes would not do so well in this bed.

Calendula is edible and is often used in salads, to pretty-up desserts, or in teas or tisanes. Do not eat most Tagetes.

When Calendula flowers are plucked, it encouraged more to bloom.

The variety I planted called "Playtime Mix" has single, semi-double, and double blooms and pastel and buff colors. Although this mix is not showy, I do like the muted colors. I planted it in 2023 and it dropped seeds that grew and rebloomed in 2024! That was nice!

Calendula is often planted as a trap plant because it exudes a sticky sap catching aphids, whiteflies, and thrips that might damage nearby vegetable plants. This leaf resin is sticky to the touch. How ironic that the very flower we can eat also traps annoying bugs

2024