Common Marigold 'Orange' - Calendula officinalis

Common Marigold – a robust cultivated plant with large edible orange flowers and versatile medicinal uses. 

Annual, profusely flowering medicinal plant with intensely orange blooms up to 6 cm in diameter. It grows robustly, is easy to care for, and is suitable for open ground, natural gardens and flowering strips. It germinates reliably and flowers from early summer until the first frost. Ideal for self‑sufficiency, ointment production and ecological medicinal‑herb cultivation.

  Origin & History

Common Marigold is a medicinal and dye plant of Mediterranean origin that has been used for centuries. From there it spread across Europe. The orange‑flowered cultivated form known today arose from Mediterranean wild populations and was already described as a medicinal plant in antiquity. Dioscorides and Pliny mentioned its use for skin ailments, and its bright blooms were early on used as a dye and as a saffron substitute. The name “Calendula” refers to its long flowering period. It belongs to the family Asteraceae, the subfamily Asteroideae and the genus Calendula.

In the Middle Ages it was a fixed component of monastic gardens; Hildegard of Bingen called Common Marigold “Ringula”. Its flowers were used medicinally and for colouring food and textiles. During this period, the first deliberately maintained cultivated forms emerged, with larger and more intensely coloured blooms.

From the 16th to the 19th century Common Marigold spread as an important medicinal and garden plant throughout Europe. The classic orange form was selected over generations for its colour, floriferousness and reliable seed production. Its anti‑inflammatory and wound‑healing properties are based on triterpene saponins, flavonoids and essential oils. To this day, the orange marigold remains a key plant for natural gardens, medicinal‑herb cultivation and natural cosmetics.

   Appearance & Characteristics

The plant is annual and herbaceous, forming upright, branched stems with elongated‑oval, slightly hairy leaves. The bright orange flowers, up to 6 cm in diameter, bloom abundantly until the first frost. The flower heads open in sunshine and close in the evening or in rain. It is sensitive to frost but reliably self‑seeds.

Plant details:

• Height: Medium, 30–60 cm

• Form: Upright, bushy, branched

• Leaves: Elongated‑oval, slightly hairy

• Flowers: Bright orange, 4–6 cm in diameter

• Flavor: Mildly spicy, slightly bitter, aromatic

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

The Common Marigold is ideal for ointments, oils, tinctures, teas and as an edible flower decoration. Its anti‑inflammatory and wound‑healing properties have traditionally been used for skin irritations, minor wounds, eczema and dry skin. Applied externally, it soothes sensitive skin and supports regeneration. The petals refine salads, soups, rice dishes and baked goods, serve as a natural colouring agent and are used in natural cosmetics for creams, soaps and facial tonics. In herbal medicine it supports wound healing, acts against inflammation and gently cares for the skin. The flowers are also used in baths, compresses and oil infusions for massage and care oils, as well as for colouring vinegars, oils and herb salts. Dried flowers are suitable for incense and fragrance blends and serve in the kitchen as a plant‑based alternative to saffron. In the garden it attracts pollinators, improves the soil and is traditionally used in mixed cropping to support soil health.

Common Marigold grows reliably in open ground, raised beds and containers. The plant is easy to care for, heat‑tolerant and flowers abundantly over many months. Its blooms attract numerous beneficial insects such as bees, bumblebees and hoverflies, supporting ecological balance in the garden. Thanks to its robust nature it continues to grow well even in less‑than‑ideal soils, self‑seeds and is excellent for flowering strips, natural gardens and green manures. It is also highly tolerant of drought and fluctuating weather conditions. With its rapid development it reliably suppresses weeds, improves soil structure and is well suited to crop rotations and mixed cultivation. Even poor, sandy or slightly compacted soils pose little difficulty, and it continues to flower reliably with lower nutrient availability. This makes it one of the most versatile and adaptable cultivated plants for nature‑friendly and ecological gardens.

Compared with other marigold varieties, the orange form is the classic traditional medicinal type, with particularly large, bright blooms – ideal for anyone who values low‑maintenance, floriferous plants with high benefits for insects and wide‑ranging uses.