Description
Calendula – Marigold –
There are about 30 species of bushy, fast growing annuals and woody based, evergreen perennials, in this genus. They occur in arable land, waste land, and rocky habitats from Southern Europe to Northern Africa, Canary Islands and Mediterranean. Leaves are alternate, simple, and somewhat aromatic. Daisy like flowers, with orange or yellow petals and yellow, orange, violet, purple, or brown centers, are borne over a long period, and throughout autumn into mild winters. Many of the cultivars are excellent annuals for an informal border, the flowers last well when cut.
Grow in well drained moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade. Deadhead to prolong flowering.
Prone to white smut, rust, gray mold, cucumber mosaic virus, aster yellows, powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots, aphids, whiteflies, snails and slugs.
C. officinalis cultivars – English Marigold – Pot Marigold – This fast growing, erect sometimes spreading annuals from Southern Europe grows 12-30″ tall and 12-18″ wide. It produces pale green, inversely lance shaped to spoon shaped, softly hairy, aromatic leaves, to 6″ long. Profusely from summer to autumn it bears daisy like, single or double, orange, yellow, gold, cream, or apricot flower, to 4″ across, with dark centers.
‘Geisha Girl’ – grows 24″ tall and has double orange flowers
Zones 6-10
