Calendula is one of the most widely used plants in the herbal community. I personally consider it a staple herb and out of all the herbs, it has been the one herb that has continuously been in my garden at every house I have lived at. One reason for this is that it is very easy to grow and spreads seeds readily.
Main uses for Calendula
Skin- Calendula is used for external skin and well as internal “skin” aka the digestive track. It is great for rashes, cuts or scrapes. It is also used in many herbal face creams. It also is astringent which helps tighten skin which internally is very helpful for anyone who with leaky gut or digestive issues.
Detoxification- Calendula helps clear out the lymph system which helps when you when you have lingering sickness. Mathew wood states that it clears out the dampness/heat in the body. It also helps clean out the liver and gallbladder.
Digestive aid- Since it has a bitter component, it also helps to stimulate the secretion of digestive juices.
Harvesting and Preparing Calendula
Harvest Calendula flower heads when they are in full bloom. The flower petals AND the flower head are used. I have read in a few sources to just harvest the petals, however, the majority of the constituents are found in the green sticky resinous base of the flower head.
Flower heads can be dried or used fresh for tea.
How to Grow Calendula
Calendulas are VERY easy to grow and propagate. They take a week or two to germinate but grow fairly quickly. Once they start to bloom, it is best to deadhead them frequently. Even having one calendula plants would be enough for one person to have enough flower heads for different preparations if space is an issue. They are also easy to grow in a pot on a patio. For a consistent bloom, it is best to harvest often. I always prune back to the nest flower bud/head when harvesting so they don’t get too tall. Calendulas love to be pruned back and will produce more flowers the more you prune. They are a perennial in mild climates and can hand some frosts but an annual in snowy climates.
You can save calendula seeds by cutting back a dead flowerhead and putting it in a jar for next year or better yet- spreading the seeds throughout the garden for more plants.