Calendula, or pot marigold, is a sunny golden-orange flower beloved by gardeners for its beauty and herbal benefits. It blooms early in the season and will brighten your garden all summer and well into fall, often still blooming when the first snow falls. It’s easy to grow and will bloom profusely the more you pick.

Calendula has been used for centuries in teas, salves, creams, and natural skincare thanks to its soothing and nourishing properties.

Medicinal Uses & Health Benefits

SKIN SOOTHER

Calendula

calendula officinalis

How to Harvest & Preserve Calendula

Harvest calendula flowers on a warm, dry day once the blooms are fully open and vibrant. Using clean scissors or your fingers, snip the flower heads just below the base of the bloom, leaving the stems behind so the plant continues producing more flowers. Frequent harvesting actually encourages calendula to bloom even more throughout the season.

To dry calendula, spread the flower heads or petals in a single layer on a screen, tray, or drying rack in a warm, airy space away from direct sunlight. Allow them to dry completely for about 1–2 weeks until the petals feel crisp and no moisture remains. Once fully dried, store calendula in airtight glass jars in a cool, dark place to preserve its color and herbal properties. Properly dried calendula can last up to a year and is perfect for teas, oils, salves, and herbal remedies.

Whether you grow it in the garden, steep it into tea, or infuse it into oils and salves, calendula is a beautiful reminder of the simple healing gifts found in nature. With its cheerful golden blooms and long history in herbal traditions, calendula brings both beauty and gentle support to everyday life. From soothing the skin to comforting the body and spirit, this humble flower has earned its place as a treasured staple in the cottage garden and home apothecary alike.

I hope you discover the joy of growing and using this beautiful little plant!

Serving Ideas

  • Enjoy warm in the evening for a calming herbal ritual

  • Blend with chamomile or lavender for a soothing floral tea

  • Serve iced with a touch of honey in the summer

For the best flavor and benefits, use fully dried organic calendula petals stored in a cool, dry place.

How to Grow Calendula

Instructions

Ingredients

Calendula has long been valued in herbal skincare for its gentle yet powerful ability to soothe and support the skin’s natural healing process. The flower contains plant compounds such as flavonoids and triterpenoids, which may help calm redness, swelling, tenderness, and discomfort. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, calendula is commonly used in salves, creams, oils, and balms to help calm dryness, redness, irritation, and sensitive skin conditions. It is especially popular for soothing minor cuts, scrapes, burns, chapped skin, and rashes, while also helping nourish and soften the skin naturally. Its mild, comforting nature makes calendula a favorite ingredient in traditional herbal remedies and natural self-care routines.

DIGESTIVE SUPPORT

Simple Homemade Calendula Salve

This soothing calendula salve is perfect for dry skin, rough hands, diaper rash, psoriasis, minor scrapes, and everyday skin nourishment. Made with simple natural ingredients, it’s a beautiful addition to any herbal home apothecary.

Calendula is one of the easiest and most rewarding flowers to grow, making it perfect for cottage gardens, kitchen gardens, and homestead-style spaces. These cheerful golden blooms thrive in full sun and bloom generously from late spring through fall.

Choose a Sunny Spot

Calendula loves:

  • Full sun (6+ hours daily)

  • Well-draining soil

  • Moderate watering

It can tolerate poor soil surprisingly well and often thrives with very little fuss.

Planting Seeds

Calendula is usually grown from seed because it sprouts quickly and easily.

  • Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost

  • Plant seeds about ¼ inch deep

  • Space plants 8–12 inches apart

  • Seeds usually germinate in 7–14 days

You can also start seeds indoors a few weeks before spring.

Watering & Care

  • Water regularly until established

  • Once mature, calendula is fairly drought tolerant

  • Deadhead spent blooms often to encourage continuous flowering

  • The more you harvest flowers, the more the plant produces

  • 1 cup calendula-infused oil (see recipe below)

  • 1 ounce beeswax pellets (about ¼ cup)

  • Optional: 10–15 drops lavender essential oil

  • Optional: 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Supplies

  • Double boiler or heat-safe bowl over a saucepan

  • Small glass jars or tins

  • Wooden spoon

  1. Add the calendula-infused oil and beeswax to a double boiler over low heat.

  2. Stir gently until the beeswax is completely melted.

  3. Remove from heat and stir in lavender essential oil or vitamin E oil if using.

  4. Carefully pour the mixture into clean jars or tins.

  5. Let cool completely until firm.

Store in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.

Calendula-Infused Oil

Fill a clean jar halfway with crushed dried calendula flowers and cover completely with olive oil or sweet almond oil. Let infuse in a sunny window for 2–4 weeks. Strain before using.

NOTE: While this is an ingredient for calendula salve, you can use the oil similarly to the salve, for skin conditions or as a massage oil to help soothe sore muscles and relax skin

Calendula has traditionally been used in herbal medicine to gently support digestive health and soothe the digestive tract. Often prepared as a tea, calendula is believed to help calm irritation and inflammation in the stomach and intestines while promoting overall digestive comfort. Herbalists have long used calendula to help ease occasional bloating, indigestion, stomach discomfort, and digestive sluggishness.

Because calendula is considered a mild and soothing herb, it is often included in calming tea blends meant to support healthy digestion and relaxation at the same time. Its gentle anti-inflammatory properties may also help support the body’s natural healing processes within the digestive system. With its warm golden petals and mild flavor, calendula tea has become a comforting herbal remedy in many traditional home apothecaries.

Calendula Tea Recipe

This gentle herbal tea is soothing, comforting, and wonderfully simple to make. Calendula tea has a light earthy-floral flavor and is often enjoyed for relaxation and digestive support.

Ingredients

  • 1–2 teaspoons dried calendula petals

  • 1 cup hot water

  • Optional: honey, lemon, or lavender

Instructions

  1. Place the dried calendula petals into a tea infuser or directly into a mug.

  2. Pour hot water over the petals.

  3. Cover and steep for 10–15 minutes.

  4. Strain if needed and sweeten with honey or add lemon if desired.