Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
In the world of gardening and natural skin care, the bright and cheerful Calendula flower holds a place of distinction. Known not just for its vibrant hues of yellow and orange but also for its remarkable healing properties, Calendula has been revered through centuries in various cultures. This week, we are taking a deep dive into the world of Calendula, exploring everything from how to grow this versatile plant in your garden to harnessing its potent skin care and wound healing benefits.
Overview of the Calendula Plant
Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
Appearance: Calendula grows up to 1 to 2 feet tall, with bright green leaves and striking, vibrant orange or yellow flowers.
Nutrient-Rich: High in triterpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, and essential oils.
Identifying Calendula
Calendula, with its modest size, is perfectly suited for border placements or container gardening. Mature plants typically reach a height and width between 1 and 2 feet, making Calendula an easily identifiable species.
Leaf: The leaves present a light green hue, adorned with soft hairs and sparse teeth, wider at the base and narrowing to a point. They follow an alternate pattern along the stem, emerging directly without stalks.
Stems: Exhibiting a light green color, the stems stand erect, feature minimal branching, are covered in hairs, and emit a strong aroma upon being crushed or cut.
Flower: The flowering period spans from late spring through early autumn, with regular deadheading encouraging extended blooming. Flowers, each on its own erect stem, showcase vibrant shades of deep orange or bright yellow, with centers that may be yellow, red, or purple. These blooms close as night falls.
Fruit & Seeds: After blooming, flowers give way to a fruit or pod that dries to a pale yellow-brown, housing seeds. These seeds are grey or brown, bearing a curled shape with spiked exteriors.
Initial uncertainty in identifying Calendula may occur when plants are in their juvenile stages, but the emergence of its distinctive flowers makes identification straightforward.
Cultivating Calendula
Calendula flourishes in full sunlight but can also adapt to partial shade in warmer climates. Thriving in well-drained, organically rich soil, these plants exhibit robust growth. Remarkably versatile, calendula tolerates a broad spectrum of soil pH levels and requires only occasional watering once established.
For propagation, you may allow calendula plants to self-seed or manually collect seeds for the next planting season. Seeds can be sown directly into garden soil or into containers. For indoor propagation, start 6 to 8 weeks prior to the expected last spring frost. If planting outdoors, do so just before the last frost date.
Seeds should be lightly covered with ½ inch of soil to ensure germination.
When purchasing plugs or seedlings, whether online or from a local nursery, wait until after the frost season to plant your calendula. Enrich their new environment with a bit of compost and ensure regular watering until the plants are well-established. Post-planting, calendula does not require additional fertilization.
For those without access to a garden or balcony, calendula is equally content growing in containers or window boxes, provided they have sufficient drainage. Monthly watering and feeding are crucial, but be careful not to overfeed, as this leads to spindly plants with fewer and smaller blooms.
Harvesting Calendula
For optimal harvesting of Calendula flowers, adhere to the following guidelines:
Harvest early in the morning after the dew has dried.
Select a warm or hot day for collection.
Only pick flowers that have fully opened.
Keep harvesting during the entire blooming period.
Cut the stem slightly above the next flower bud.
Ensure proper drying and storage of the blooms after gathering.
Which Plant Parts Are Used for Medicinal Purposes?
Calendula's flowers are exclusively utilized for medicinal purposes, culinary applications, and fabric dyeing. The leaves, stems, and roots are generally considered to have no practical use.
Medicinal Benefits of Calendula
Calendula is primarily used in topical forms, such as oils, lotions, salves, toners, and creams/ointments, largely because of its believed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite being less commonly used, health remedies also include tinctures and teas in very low doses.
Calendula is not just a garden beauty; it's a powerhouse of skin healing and rejuvenating properties. This flower contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compounds making it an exceptional ingredient in remedies for cuts, scrapes, and wounds, as well as a soothing agent for irritated skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
These topical remedies are applied to address:
Minor wounds
Superficial burns and sunburns
Dry, itchy skin
Insect bites and stings
Hemorrhoid discomfort
When consumed internally, in the form of tea or tincture, Calendula is thought to alleviate constipation and abdominal cramps, as well as to enhance the immune system.
DIY Calendula Recipe
Calendula & Oat Bath Soak
Ingredients:
2-3 tablespoons of dried Calendula Flowers
2-3 teaspoons of Colloidal Oatmeal (You can easily make this by grinding up some old fashioned oats in your blender or food processor)
2-3 tablespoons of Epsom Salts (Or your preferred bath salt blend of choice!
Muslin Tea Bag
Instructions:
Place the ingredients directly into your Muslin Tea Bag.
Tie bag, and give a gentle shake to combine ingredients (not necessary, but I like to do this).
Draw a warm bath, and toss the bag into the water. You can empty the contents directly into the water, but keeping them in the back makes for not having to clean up at the end.
Soak as desired. Muslin Tea Bags can be reused by emptying the contents and washing the bag with warm soapy water.
Warning and Cautions
Certain individuals should exercise caution with Calendula:
Individuals with allergies to chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, ragweed, or other members of the Asteraceae/Compositae family.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
People with upcoming surgical procedures.
Individuals taking sedative medications.
For safe use, consult with a healthcare provider or clinical herbalist before incorporating Calendula into your health routine!
