"Erfurter Orangefarbige" Calendula

Calendula officinalis

Erfurter Orangefarbige, also known as Orange Zinger, is a German variety bred for production and higher medicinal resin content. Absolutely stunning large and uniformly bright orange double blooms. So easy to grow and such an irreplaceable herb to have in your apothecary garden. Well known for its affinity to the outer skin as a primary healing agent in herbal salves, Calendula is also taken internally as a tisane (herbal infusion) or tincture to heal mucosal membrane and the wondrous single cell layer of intestinal epithelium of our GI tract. Flowers are edible— a perfect adornment to salads, cakes, etc! They also make a really cheery cut flower arrangement. Nothing says summer more than a bursting patch of sunny Calendula.

Medicinal uses of Calendula officinalis listed are for informational purposes and not mean as replacement for medical assessment and care by a qualified practitioner such as an herbalist or naturopathic physician.

Sowing/growing Information:

Direct sow in the spring or fall. Can also be transplanted.

In some years we’ve have scattered seeded calendula and its did phenomenally, others years we’ve opted for rows:

Space plants 6-12 inches apart.

Space rows 12 inches apart.

If you do scatter, we would recommend thinning as plants will reach upwards of two feet in height with numerous flowering branches.

Readily self sows!

Harvest Instructions:

Prepare your harvest baskets for prolific blooms all season long— almost too many to keep up on! Keep blossoms harvested to encourage more growth. A favorite to prepare a folk method oil extraction. Fill mason jar half to 3/4 full with fresh calendula flowers. Fill jar with oil (we use Extra Virgin Olive) just about an inch over the top of the herbs. Cover jar with cloth to allow for evaporation and set in a sunny window for two weeks. Strain herbs— do not squeeze the herbs, just allow to sit in a colander and drip oil into a clean dry jar. In a second clean dry jar you can do a “second press” of the oily mushed calendula flowers and squeeze all you can out of it. Use this jar first as it will contain a bit of water from the fresh herbal material that you have just squeeze. Water in your oil infusion will grow mold in long term storage. We usually make a beeswax salve which greatly extends shelf life of fresh herb infusions.

Seed Savers:

A very fun and easy plant to get started on your seed saving adventures. Calendula is a gentle teacher and she will show you just what to do. Allow flower heads to drop their petals and watch the miracle unfold. As seeds ripen and turn from green to light brown enclose your hand around the maturing flower head and pull. If there is any resistance leave the seeds to mature another day. Mature seeds will gently give way into your hand. Dry down and store in an airtight container for next year’s garden.