Pot Marigold

(Calendula officinalis)

Other Names:
Garden marigold

Range:
Non Native Species



Family:
Asteraceae - Aster, Daisy, or Composite Family

Growth Type:
Herbaceous Perennial

Height:
Can grow to more than 30" in height

Leaves:
2" - 7" long leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The leaf margins are wavy or slightly toothed, and hairy on both sides.

Stem/Trunk:
Sparsely branched stems that can be erect or lax.

Root:
Fibrous root mass

Flower Season:
Summer, but when conditions are favorable, they can bloom year round.

Flower Appearance:
The inflorescences are yellow to orange, forming a dense flowerhead 11⁄2–3 inches in diameter surrounded by two rows of hairy bracts. The disc florets are tubular and hermaphrodite, and generally of a more intense orange-yellow colour than the female.

Seed/Fruit:
A thorny curved achene

Miscellaneous characteristics:
Calendulas are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including cabbage moth, gothic moth, large yellow underwing, and setaceous Hebrew character.

Habitat:
Cultivated Species

Parts Used:
Leaves, Flower Buds, Flowers

Culinary Uses:
The blossoms/Flowers can be eaten raw. They make a nice colorful addition to salads

Energetics
Taste: Pungent, Bitter
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying

Traditional Medicinal Uses:
An infusion of Calendula has been used to treat hypotension. Calendula has been used for it's strong anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies have shown Calendula to be effective at normalizing lipid levels in humans. Floral extracts and aerial part decoctions have seen shown effective at treating viral infections. Calendula has strong anti-inflammatory actions. Calendula is a highly effective emollient. It has been shown to be highly effective at soothing skin irritations in women receiving radiation for breast cancer. Studies have also shown it to be effective in healing wounds, and treating burns. numerous skin issues from eczema to wounds to chicken pox, conjunctivitis, ulcers, minor infections, UV protection, mastitis, radiation protection, stagnant lymph, delayed menses.

Medicinal Actions:
Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antiviral, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Demulcent, Emmenagogue, Hepatic, Lipolytic, Lymphatic, Vulnerary