Calendula (Calendula spp.)
Calendula Plant Features
Calendula is an easy-to-grow annual flower that's been cultivated in home gardens for generations. In fact, it's been mentioned in A Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare. Calendula is prized for its colorful blooms in warm shades of yellow, orange, and cream, as well as its low-maintenance nature.Grow calendula in container gardens, as well as beds and borders in front yard and backyard landscapes. It thrives in cool weather, making it a perfect companion for other spring and fall favorites, such as pansies, violas, flowering kale, and other plants. Because it's a relatively small plant, it plays well with others and looks great in the front or middle of the border.
Calendula Questions?
Just send us a quick email. Our gardening experts are happy to answer your questions!
Calendula Growing Instructions
Grow calendula in a spot with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun per day). While calendula will tolerate partial shade, it will grow leggy and won't bloom as profusely. Pinching it back regularly can help keep it compact.Calendula prefers well-drained soil; it doesn't like to stay moist or saturated for extended periods. Once established, it withstands drought fairly well. That said, calendula grows and blooms best when given regular moisture.
You typically don't need to prune calendula, but removing faded flowers helps encourage more blooms. If the plant starts to grow leggy, pinching off the top inch or two of growth will encourage a fuller, bushier plant.
Fertilize calendula if you have poor soil. You can use any general-purpose garden fertilizer. Application rates vary by product; always read the instructions to know how much fertilizer to use and how often to use it.
Note: Because calendula are cool-season flowers, they often sulk when summer sets in, especially in hot-weather areas.
Calendula is not grown for human or animal consumption.
-
Water
Medium water needs
-
Light
Outside: Sun
-
Colors
Orange
White
Yellow
-
Special Features
Attracts butterflies
Fragrant flowers/foliage
Super-easy to grow
Complement your Calendula
CalibrachoaCalendula and calibrachoa are natural companions. Use calibrachoa to contrast or complement calendula and spill over the sides of container gardens, hanging baskets, and window boxes.
Marigold
Calendula is often called pot marigold, and it grows well with traditional marigold (Tagetes). The two have similar color ranges that complement one another.
