Calendula Officinalis

Calendula was one of the first medicinal herbs I tried to grow.  I remember walking into a garden center and asking for kalen-DU-la, and being corrected by a clerk who pronounced it kal-en-ju-la - (equal accent on all syllables).

A nice summer time harvest.

Once I learned how to say it, it was time to learn how to grow and use it.  All calendula varieties are not created equal, and if you are growing the herb for its healing qualities, make sure you purchase a medicinal variety like, calendula officinalis. Seeds for this variety can be purchased online from Horizon Herbs.

Click Read More (below) to see the complete post.

Growing 

In Minnesota, calendula seeds can be sown directly in a garden bed in the spring.   Chose a spot that will get full sun and keep the soil moist.  Once the plants are growing make sure they get an occasional watering.

Flower buds will begin to form when the plant is mature and will continue flowering until there is a hard freeze.  Plan to harvest the flowers every few days or so as the more you pick, the more flowers the plant will produce.

Honey bees enjoy calendula too!

These daisy like flowers have yellow centers.

Harvesting

The blossoms pop off easily when you grasp them between your thumb and finger and give them a little snap.  Be prepared for the sticky feel as these flowers produce a lot of resin.  This resin has anti-fungal properties and is your indication that you are harvesting blossoms from a medicinal plant.

When dry, calendula blossoms are a golden yellow.

Calendula blossoms can be dried for winter use.  I like to set them out single layer on a drying rack to allow the moisture to evaporate, and then finish them in a 95 degree (F) dehydrator.  Once they are "crispy" dry they can be placed in a glass canning jar, covered with a lid, and sealed.  Moisture and sunlight will deteriorate the medicinal properties of any dried herb, so store your sealed jar in a area out of sunlight.

Medicinal uses

According to Rosemary Gladstar's in her book, Medicinal Herbs, a Beginner's Guide, calendula;

• heals wounds by promoting cell repair and growth 

• has both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat bruises, burns, sores, skin ulcers, skin infections, and rashes

• is gentle enough for babies; use to treat cradle cap and diaper rash 

• can be infused in water, and used to treat thrush (yeast overgrowth in the mouth).

• nourishes and cleanses the lymphatic system 

• stimulates lymphatic drainage and moves congestion out of body making it helpful for swollen glands

Calendula blossoms are most often infused in oil.  This oil can be used as is, made into a salve by melting in bees wax, or used as an ingredient in homemade lotions.  Olive oil is the best solvent for medicinal uses. Apricot or grapeseed oils are a lighter choice for use in lotion recipes.

Calendula infused oil is a golden yellow.

Learn how to infuse herbs in oils by clicking here.
Instructions for making a salve from infused oils can be found here.

Seed Saving

In the fall you can stop harvesting the flowers and let a few "go to seed".  Once the seed heads are dry, you can store them in a sealed jar over the winter and plant them next spring.  This makes this herb sustainable in cold climates, as once you purchase the seed, you can grow the plant and save the seed from year to year.

Flowers developing into seed heads.

Seed heads ripe and ready to harvest.

Curly shaped seeds.

Feed the Bees

Calendula's long growing season provides a full season of food for the bees. This is especially important in the late fall when very few plants are in bloom.

More Resources

Mountain Rose Herbs blog post; Healing with Calendula

Historical information and creative recipes;  Herbalpedia.com


Have you grown calendula?

Please note: The objective of this blog is to raise awareness of alternative ways to achieve wellness and to empower you to take an active role in your health decisions.  To accomplish this, you will need to explore these subjects in greater depth and then determine what makes sense for your life.  My hope is that this information will inspire you to start your own search into ways to make your life happier, healthier and more fulfilling.