Hands in the Dirt: Calendula

Photo and article by Donna Iverson 
 
It’s November and some autumn flowers are still blooming.  These include chrysanthemums, snapdragons, marigolds, petunias, zinnias, and one of my favorites: calendula.
 
A member of the daisy family, calendula will bloom until the first hard frost. Sometimes called pot marigolds, calendulas are easy to grow, low maintenance, prolific bloomers, and attractive to pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
 
Planted in early spring as seeds, calendula blooms in about six weeks. Deadheading increases flower production but come late fall, let the flowers go to seed.  The plant will reseed itself.  During the summer months, the flowers make beautiful cut flower bouquets. Companion plants include everything but dill, potatoes and parsnips.  
 
Native to the Mediterranean area and east Asia, calendula is a popular medicinal plant used to treat skin conditions.  Calendula cream soothes skin rashes and other skin irritations.  It is so popular it can be found on grocery store shelves as well as in health food stores.
 
Its flowers are also edible and non toxic to humans and animals.  The yellow flowers can be used to dye food, yarn and fabric, like cotton and wool.
 
As winter approaches, instead of cleaning out the garden beds, let the brown stems of autumn flowers be.  Plant stalks provide refuge for pollinators and other beneficial wildlife in your yard or community garden.

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