Calendula
Calendula officinalis
flowerA hardy annual with bright orange and yellow daisy-like flowers that bloom from spring until frost. Companion plant extraordinaire — the flowers attract beneficial insects, the scent deters pests, and the sticky stems trap aphids and whiteflies.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Bloom
~50 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
12-18 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1/4 in.
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Soil pH
5.5-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Light application at planting; too much nitrogen reduces flower production
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 at planting
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow in early spring — calendula actually prefers cool weather and often overwinters in mild climates. Self-seeds readily once established. Deadhead regularly to extend blooming. Tolerates light frost. Cut back in summer heat and it often rebounds in fall.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 1
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Projected first bloom
May 21
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Tomatoes — Acts as an aphid trap crop and draws hoverflies and parasitic wasps
- Brassicas — Sticky stems trap whiteflies and aphids before they reach the crop
- Asparagus — Deters asparagus beetles
- Any vegetable row edge — Broadly attractive to beneficial insects throughout the season
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Acts as a trap crop; aphids prefer calendula and are then controlled by ladybugs and hoverflies attracted to the flowers
Sticky stems physically trap some whiteflies; flowers bring in parasitic wasps
Plant at the ends of asparagus rows as a deterrent
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Cut flowers when fully open for use in salads, herbal skin preparations, or drying. Remove spent flowers daily to keep plants producing. Petals can be dried and stored for herbal uses — harvest in dry weather and dry quickly to preserve color.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Flowers contain flavonoids, triterpenes, and carotenoids with well-documented skin-healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Used in salves and creams for wound healing. Petals are edible and provide antioxidant carotenoids.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.