Flowers - Gardening - Health - Herbs

Calendula: A Healing Flower

Art Shades Calendula

In recent years I have been charmed by the benefits of a flower that has a long history. According to the Complete Herbal Book: This sunny little flower—the “merrybuds” of Shakespeare—was first used in Indian and Arabic cultures, before being “discovered” by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks.*

The medicinal qualities of calendula are listed: Calendula flowers contain antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties that promote healing.*

This year I bought some heirloom seeds from Select Seeds—Art Shades Calendula and Orange King Calendula. Both are growing in my garden.

Calendula Flower
Art Shades Calendula
Calendula Flower
Orange King Calendula

Calendula is an edible flower, and the dried the petals of this flower have been called poor man’s saffron. I dry my calendula flowers by placing them on cheesecloth or a paper towel over a drying rack.

Drying Calendula Flowers

It takes approximately 2 weeks for the flowers to dry in room air. Then I place them in an airtight canning jar for use throughout the year.

Calendula flowers make a healthy tea. Tips for a variety of ways to benefit from calendula tea are posted at thenerdyfarmwife.com. Be sure to note the caution mentioned for use during pregnancy.  Calendula salve is another way to make use of the flowers. It is fairly easy to make. You can find my process here.

Update: My flowers have continued to bloom well into the fall of 2017. More recipes for this special flower  are  appearing  on-line.   Vintage Remedies has a simple recipe for calendula & coconut oil salve.

Every couple days I pick the blossoms, but when I am not fast enough they go to seed. The seeds can be saved for next year’s flowers.

Calendula Seed

 

The curved seeds with a bumpy surface are released from the dried flower head. It is possible for the plant to self-seed for the following year, but that hasn’t worked well in my garden. I plant the seeds outside in the early spring.

Mary’s Heirloom Seeds has an article about the benefits of calendula. 

Another source for calendula seeds is  Pinetree Garden Seeds.

If you don’t have calendula in your garden but would like to add it to your stock of helpful herbs, you can order a package of dried calendula from The Bulk Herb Store.

Great selection of bulk herbs, books, and remedies. Articles, Research Aids and much more.

*McVicar, Jessica, The Complete Herb Book, Kyle Cathie Limited: London, 1994.   p. 56-57.

Wildcrafting Wednesday Featured Blogger

Linking with the Happy, Healthy, Green & Natural Party,  Whole Hearted Home,    Friendship Friday, the Homemaking Party, So Much at Home,  Roses of Inspiration, and  Wordless Wednesday .

Carol is a follower of Jesus and a wife, mom & grandma. She worked for many years as a childbirth nurse and prenatal educator. She recently retired from clinical work. She has written articles for nursing journals and devotionals. Her novel, Aliisa's Letter, was published in 2010 and she is currently working on another project.

15 Comments on “Calendula: A Healing Flower

  1. Visiting from HEALTHY HAPPY GREEN AND NATURAL PARTY BLOG HOP #174. Congrats on being featured. I use calendula suave all the time, but have never grown it. This is good motivation to do so. Beautiful pictures and interesting process of how you dry flowers to use later on.

  2. Hi Carol,
    Calendula sure has a lot of health benefits and is such a pretty flower too. I really life you’re coconut oil & calendula salve recipe. Congratulations on being featured on Healthy Happy Green & Natural blog hop. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day. Pinning & tweeted!

  3. Hi Carol,
    What helpful and valuable natural remedy information! I can’t wait to make calendula tea and salve! Thank you so much for sharing Calendula: A Healing Flower with us at the Healthy Happy Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. I am so delighted that you are partying with us! I’m pinning and sharing this post!

  4. What a lovely post full of excellent information. I am so glad you joined Roses of Inspiration this week – I hope you’re able to join us again next week.

    Have a beautiful weekend!

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