Calendula 2008 Herb of the Year - Calendula Officinalis
USDA Certified Organically Grown Medicinal Herbs, Certified by Global Culture
Calendula
Native to south central Europe and North Africa, this worthy medicinal is cherished for its bright orange and yellow flowers which open with the sun each day. Calendula is often grown as an ornamental cut flower and as such many selections have been developed for color and stem length. For medicinal use the orange, single flowered plants have been shown to have the highest resin content, although other varieties are still well worth growing for their diverse beauty truly medicine for the soul!!
Calendula plants normally grow to about 2 feet in height with pale green leaves and flower heads that range from 2 to 3 inches across. The entire aerial portion of the plant can be used medicinally, but the flowers contain the most concentrated medicinal constituents. Flowers can be picked when just beginning to open to fully open and air dried out of direct sunlight for later use as infused oil, tincture, liniment or as an excellent addition to tea, the fresh petals also make a great edible flower.
Calendula flowers have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Herbal remedies as old as the 16th century make reference to it as a cure for chronic headaches, ulcers, jaundice, and ailments of the heart, along with breaking a fever. Externally, it was long heralded as a cure for boils, insect stings, skin irritations, swelling, cuts and bruises. Some have referred to it as poor man's saffron and it was used as a coloring for cheese. Applied topically, calendula actually promotes the reconstruction of skin tissue and can reduce scarring from burns and abrasions. The bitter resins of the plant have shown anti-viral properties and helped situations with lymphatic congestion. Calendula is a favorite ingredient of infused oils used in baby salves, healing salves and skin creams.
Calendula is considered an annual although it can tolerate some freezing.In milder climates they will over-winter, often blooming again in late winter or early spring a much needed ray of sunshine when the rest of the garden lays dormant. If your climate is colder, the plants will die off in late Fall but in most cases will reseed and you will have an abundance of baby plants for harvesting later in the summer.
Calendula is easy to grow and produces a profusion of blooms to collect for your herbal medicine chest. We are pleased here at Crimson Sage Nursery to offer these vivid orange, high resin content Calendula plants to our customers. They will add a big splash of color to your garden, provide you with an edible and herbal harvest and lift your spirit like no other herb I know.
To order Calendula click here.
NOTE: We require a minimum order of SIX plants (CA Nursery License CO354.001)
