How to Grow Calendula for Skincare, Tea, and Pollinators
Calendula might just be the hardest-working flower in my garden. With its golden blooms, calming energy, and powerful healing properties, it’s become a staple in everything from my skincare line to my summer tea blends. Whether you’re growing herbs for the first time or looking to add more purpose to your flower beds, calendula is one of the most rewarding plants to grow. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to grow it, harvest it, and use it—whether your focus is pollinators, homemade remedies, or just bringing more beauty to your backyard.
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What Is Calendula (and Why Is It So Loved)?
• Calendula officinalis, often called pot marigold, is a bright, resin-rich herb traditionally used for:
• Skin healing (salves, oils, creams)
• Lymphatic support
• Digestive health and gentle immune toning
• While not a true marigold (those are Tagetes), calendula is beloved in the herbal world for its gentle yet powerful properties.
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Why I Grow Calendula Every Year
• It’s multi-use: I use the petals in skincare, body oil, and tea blends
• It’s easy to grow organically and thrives even in poor soil
• It supports the health of my garden by attracting pollinators and beneficial insects
• It makes my apothecary shelves look like sunshine in a jar
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How to Grow Calendula in Your Garden
When to Plant:
• Direct sow after danger of frost, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before planting out
• In Zone 6b, plant around mid-May for a full season of blooms
Where to Plant:
• Full sun preferred, but tolerates partial sun
• Add to herb beds, pollinator gardens, veggie borders, or raised beds
Spacing & Soil:
• Space 8–12 inches apart
• Tolerates poor soil but appreciates well-drained ground
• No fertilizer needed—too much nitrogen can reduce bloom production
Watering:
• Moderate needs, drought-tolerant once established
Pinch or Deadhead:
• Deadhead often to encourage new blooms
• Pinch back early for bushier plants
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Harvesting Calendula: When and How
• Harvest fully open blooms, preferably in mid-morning after the dew dries
• Use scissors or snap them at the base of the flower head
• Dry in a well-ventilated, shaded space until petals are crispy and papery
• Store in a sealed jar out of direct sunlight to preserve potency
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How I Use Calendula
1. Skincare
• Infuse dried petals into oil (olive, jojoba, sunflower) for 4–6 weeks
• Use in salves, body butters, facial oils, and lip balms
• Calendula oil soothes eczema, cuts, rashes, cracked skin, and sunburn
2. Tea & Internal Use
• Add dried petals to calming tea blends (often paired with lemon balm, chamomile, or mint)
• Supports lymphatic flow, digestion, and gentle immune modulation
• Petals are mild-tasting and add cheerful color to any herbal tea
3. In the Garden
• Attracts bees and beneficial insects like hoverflies
• Can be used as a trap crop near tomatoes or brassicas to distract aphids
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Best Varieties for Herbal Use
If you’re growing calendula primarily for herbal use (vs. ornamental display), look for:
• Resina: extremely high in medicinal resin content
• Erfurter Orangefarbige: excellent for oil infusions and salves
• Pacific Beauty Mix: widely available and still suitable for herbal use
Avoid ornamental or double-flowered types if you’re focused on harvesting—they may have less resin and be harder to dry.
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Final Thoughts: Grow Beauty That Heals
Calendula isn’t just pretty—it’s purposeful. When I see the golden blooms nodding in the breeze, I know they’re doing more than brightening the garden. They’re preparing to become nourishment, healing, and comfort. If you’re looking to grow something beautiful that truly gives back, calendula is a wonderful place to start.
You can find calendula in our Radiant Bloom Body Oil here, and our Calm the Bite Balm here.