About
Calendula officinalis is a quick-growing annual or biennial characterized by its fragrant foliage and clusters of bright orange, daisy-shaped blooms. These flowers appear in abundance throughout the summer and fall, continuing until the arrival of the first hard frosts.
About the genus
Calendula comprises either annuals or perennials with woody bases. They feature straightforward, fragrant foliage and prominent flower heads resembling daisies, which bloom in shades of orange or yellow during the summer and autumn months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, East-facing, South-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
- Fragrance
- Foliage
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a light, poor, free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and pinch out terminal shoots to encourage bushy growth
- Pruning
- Deadhead regularly; cut back after flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in situ in spring or autumn
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews and a virus