Calendula – Touch of Red

Calendula ‘Touch of Red’ is a hardy annual flower known for its vibrant golden-yellow petals with delicate red accents, giving it a charming, vintage look. This variety thrives in cooler climates and is prized for its large, showy blooms that brighten gardens and floral arrangements.

Though technically an annual, Calendula often reseeds itself in suitable conditions and can return year after year, especially in mild regions. It grows particularly well in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where cool winters and moist springs encourage natural reseeding and vigorous growth.

Commonly called an “old-fashioned marigold,” Calendula is botanically distinct from true marigolds (Tagetes species) but shares their cheerful, daisy-like appearance. Beyond its ornamental appeal, Calendula is valued as an herb, with edible petals that add color and a mild, slightly peppery flavor to salads, teas, soups, and baked goods. It also has a long history of use in herbal medicine and skincare for its soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Calendula prefers full sun to partial shade and grows best in well-drained soil. While it can be started indoors, it usually performs better and blooms longer when direct-seeded outdoors. In USDA zones 7–10, fall planting is recommended to allow seeds to overwinter and produce earlier blooms in spring.

Common issues with Calendula include aphids and powdery mildew, particularly in humid or overcrowded conditions. Providing adequate spacing and good air circulation helps prevent these problems.

With its striking coloration, edible flowers, and easy care requirements, Touch of Red Calendula is a versatile and rewarding choice for any cool-season garden or herb patch.

**For larger quantities than listed for sale please contact us for availability and pricing.

The broadcast rate for seeding is 60 – 75 pounds per acre.

The seed drill rate for seeding in rows is 30 pounds per acre.