Calendula mix

Calendula – Heirloom from Croatia (Calendula officinalis)

Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
Common Name: Pot Marigold
Annual | Medicinal & Culinary | Heirloom Lineage | Grown from Seed

This vibrant heirloom Calendula, passed down through generations of a Croatian family lineage, is cherished for its bright, cheerful flowers and versatile uses in traditional medicine, skincare, and cooking. Known as the “pot marigold,” calendula’s petals add colour and gentle flavour to salads, teas, and homemade ointments.

Well-suited to the Irish climate, calendula thrives when grown from seed in cool, temperate gardens, blooming profusely from early summer to autumn. Its bright flowers are beloved by pollinators, making it a valuable companion plant in vegetable and herb gardens.
? Horticultural Highlights:

Plant Type: Hardy annual

Height: 30–60 cm

Flowers: Bright orange to deep yellow, daisy-like blooms

Uses: Culinary petals, herbal teas, skin salves, natural dye

Flavour: Mildly spicy, tangy, and slightly peppery petals

Pollinators: Attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects

? Growing Instructions (Seed Propagation – Irish Conditions):

Sowing Time:

    Indoors: March–April for transplanting

    Outdoors: April–May direct sow once risk of frost passes

Sowing Depth: Lightly cover seeds (0.5 cm)

Spacing: Thin or transplant seedlings to 20–30 cm apart

Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil; tolerates poorer soils

Light: Full sun preferred for best flowering

Care: Deadhead regularly to encourage prolonged bloom

Harvest: Pick petals when fully open; dry for tea or salves

? Historical & Cultural Significance:

Calendula has a rich history in Croatian folk medicine and cuisine, where it was valued for its healing properties and decorative beauty. Traditionally used in skin remedies, anti-inflammatory treatments, and even as a natural dye, calendula’s bright flowers symbolise warmth and health. This heirloom seed represents a living connection to Croatian heritage, now thriving in Irish gardens as a treasured medicinal and culinary plant.