Simple in appearance, the calendula flower has powerful medicinal potential. Many gardeners love this plant for its pleasant appearance, unpretentious nature, long flowering and undeniable benefits for both humans and the garden. Many people know this plant under the name “marigold”. It can often be seen in flower beds and garden plots. A seemingly inconspicuous simple plant, when planted in groups, can paint a garden in bright yellow and orange colors. Moreover, the healing properties of calendula have been known since the Middle Ages. Thanks to its rich range of biologically active compounds, calendula is used in various dosage forms. The most common are: calendula extract, infusions, decoctions, teas, ointments, creams, candles. By growing marigolds in the garden, gardeners acquire not only an ornamental plant, but also a “green” medicine for almost all ailments.
Description of the plant
Calendula is an annual or perennial, herbaceous or subshrub plant from the Asteraceae family.
The erect stems are branched, ribbed, thick, and pubescent. The alternate leaves are simple, elongated, oval, elongated or lanceolate. At the tops of tall peduncles, single basket-shaped inflorescences of yellow-orange color bloom. Calendula blooms all season, blooms with sunrise and closes with sunset, even in the cloudiest weather the plant delights with bright blooms. According to the superstition, if the marigold flowers do not bloom at sunrise, expect cloudy, rainy weather, but if you see open flowers at first light, it will be a clear sunny day.
The achenes are curved, the shape of the curvature depends on the location in the basket. Seed germination lasts 4 - 5 years. Thanks to the curved shape of the seeds, reminiscent of marigolds, the plant received its second name “marigold”.
Calendula officinalis is a very beloved flower by many gardeners, valued for its simple decorative appearance and medicinal properties for a wide range of applications.
When describing calendula, special attention is paid to the composition of the herbaceous plant with characteristic healing properties that have been known since the 15th century.
The medicinal plant calendula is truly a storehouse of useful substances, an indispensable assistant in effective treatment, restoration and maintenance of health.
Where does calendula grow?
Despite the weather conditions, in gardens, dachas, flower beds, where calendula grows, you can see small red “suns” that look advantageous against the background of dense greenery. Just a century and a half ago, marigolds could only be seen growing naturally in the Mediterranean, Western Europe and southwest Asia. But the popularity and fame that calendula has earned for its medicinal properties have made the plant in demand almost all over the world.
What does calendula look like?
When describing a plant, special attention is paid to the inflorescence. The outer part of calendula flowers consists of petals or reed-like large flowers of bright yellow-orange color, flat and elongated in shape. The central part is small tubular flowers or a core of a darker shade. Many people know what calendula looks like. This is a fairly simple plant with easy care and unpretentious character.
Bloom
Ten weeks usually pass from the emergence of seedlings to the start of flowering. And then you can start collecting the opened inflorescences. The brightest and most saturated inflorescences usually contain the greatest amount of useful substances. Baskets of inflorescences can be picked off once every two weeks and dried in the shade or on hanging shelves. Collection is carried out only in dry weather.
What’s interesting is that the more often you pick the baskets, the more new ones the calendula produces. For her, the breaking of flowers is a signal to increase productivity. It turns out that with frequent pruning, calendula can bloom until autumn, sometimes until October. If the baskets are not disturbed, then in a month the flowering will end, and in August it will be possible to start collecting seeds. If you do not collect all the seeds, then in the spring you will see shoots. Moreover, by self-sowing, calendula reproduces very well, and thanks to the wind it can cover the entire area.
Photo gallery of calendula varieties
Calendula variety “Pink Surprise”
Calendula variety "Touch of Red"
Calendula officinalis Calendula variety "Apricot"
Types and varieties
The genus includes about 20 species. Currently, there are many known garden forms derived from the original natural species.
One type of calendula, marigold, is very popular among gardeners because it is a simple ornamental plant. The development of various varieties of calendula is carried out in two directions: decorative and medicinal. Domestic breeders work mostly in the medical field.
Field
Calendula field
An annual type of medicinal herb, 10–30 cm high. The stem is straight, branched, with soft, scattered pubescence. Alternate simple leaves are located along the entire length of the stem.
Single flowers 1 - 2 cm in diameter form “basket” inflorescences, painted in pale mustard and yellow.
The species is not popular and in demand among gardeners, since the flowers are rather inconspicuous and rather small. They are rarely found on sale due to low demand; they can be found among planting material of wild and field species. In its natural environment, the species is found in southern Europe, in France and Germany.
Medicinal
Calendula officinalis
The most famous and widespread type. Although calendula is called “marigold,” it is still correct to call only calendula officinalis “marigold.”
Southern Europe is considered the birthplace of the flower.
Compact annual herbaceous plant about 20 - 75 cm in height. The stems are straight, highly branched, light green, ribbed, pubescent with small glandular hairs. The leaves are oval, elongated, simple, pubescent. Flowers with a refreshing specific aroma. The petals are glossy, yellow or orange on top, matte on the underside, the central part has small tubular flowers of yellow, orange or brown.
Calendula officinalis blooms from July to November, numerous seeds remain viable for up to 5 years. Based on this medicinal herb, various ornamental and medicinal varieties have been created. Although both have healing properties, for ornamental species the priority properties are the size and shape of the flower, the height of the stem, and the length of flowering.
Radio
Calendula Radio
Compact medium-sized medicinal plant 30 - 50 cm tall. The stems are tough, strong, ribbed. The light green leaves are elongated, oval, large, with characteristic embossed veins. Single flowers are collected in hemispherical, double and semi-double inflorescences 6 - 8 cm in diameter, radiant in shape. The petals are half-twisted into a tube and form diverging rays resembling antennas; the central part of the flower is a lighter shade.
Yuvel
Voluminous, compact, almost spherical bush 40 - 50 cm tall. The stem is light green, pentagonal. The leaves are large, oblong, wide, light green. Flat double and semi-double inflorescences are 5 - 8 cm in diameter, the central part of the flower is yellow, the flat petals are pink - orange.
Bonbon
A low-growing variety of calendula up to 30 cm high. Dense imbricated, densely double flowers up to 8 cm in diameter, yellow-orange in color.
Indian Prince
Calendula Indian Prince
Tall variety 60 - 75 cm tall. Calendula flowers are large, double, up to 7–9 cm in diameter, with dark central tubular flowers and rich bronze-orange petals, with burgundy streaks at pointed ends. Used to decorate gardens and in floristry.
Details
Varieties
Varieties and popular varieties of calendula
There are about 20 plant species in the genus, most of which are annuals. In nature, medicinal and field calendula are most often found. Garden varieties were developed thanks to the work of breeders.
Field calendula has a special decorative value. This plant is not medicinal, and therefore is not used in medicine. The stem of the variety has medium branching and reaches a maximum height of 30 cm. The leaf blades have an ovoid shape and a light fluff in the form of glandular fibers. Flowering is characterized by the appearance of ocher-yellow inflorescences, followed by the formation of fruits starting in mid-summer. Field marigold is found in abandoned areas, wastelands, and is also grown in open ground as an ornamental plant.
Calendula officinalis is used in folk medicine. The plant is distinguished by the presence of wide and medium-branched stems reaching a maximum height of 75 cm. The leaf blades are light green and oval in shape. During flowering, bright orange inflorescences appear, reaching 6 cm in diameter. The whisks themselves have an unusual and refreshing aroma.
Garden or ornamental calendula is bred through selection and differs in both the height of the bush forms and the duration of flowering.
Among the most common ornamental varieties are:
- Juvel - this variety is characterized by a rounded bush with light green shoots in the form of an irregular pentagon. They bear leaves of the same shade and semi-double or double inflorescences, reaching 8 cm in diameter. The buds are painted a rich salmon color.
- Sonnenstein is a compact variety, not exceeding 50 cm in height, with shoots along the length of which there are clearly pronounced ribs. With the arrival of the flowering period, semi-double basket-shaped buds begin to form in bright yellow shades and about 7.5 cm in diameter, with curled reed petals.
- Meisterstück is a low bush, maximum 45 cm in height, with wide and long leaf blades of bright green color. During flowering, semi-double and double flower baskets appear with bright orange reed petals and tubular petals of a pale brown hue.
- Radio - variety is distinguished by the presence of bushes about 45 cm high and obvious ribbing along the entire length of the shoots, on which there are light green large leaf plates with relief veins. In the summer, double or semi-double inflorescences begin to form, reaching 7 cm in diameter. The reed flowers are rolled into a tube and painted bright orange.
- Sensation is also a medium-sized bush with dark green leaves and double flower baskets, collected in inflorescences with a diameter of 8 cm. The buds bear shiny reed flowers in a rich orange color and tubular flowers in yellowish tones.
Interesting! The Pacific Beauty variety is most often grown for cutting and making floral arrangements. Due to its compact size, calendula variety Patio is planted to decorate borders, small flower beds and rock gardens.
How to properly grow calendula seedlings?
Planting calendula seedlings is done in ordinary universal soil. Sowing of seeds is carried out in standard trays, and after embedding the seeds in the ground, water and cover with glass, leaving the container in a warm and well-lit place.
Further care of seedlings
Immediately after seed germination, the container must begin to be ventilated, while the boxes are removed to a cool place with a temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius. About 7 days before transplanting into open ground, calendula should already remain outside for about a couple of hours. During this period, about 6 true leaves will appear on the seedlings.
Settled water is used for irrigation and the soil should always be moderately moist. In order for young seedlings to be as strong as possible and develop properly, they must be watered with a solution of a mineral complex.
Preparing the soil for planting seeds and seedlings
The soil for planting is prepared with the arrival of autumn and at this time it is necessary:
- dig the area to the depth of a spade bayonet, so that the soil becomes as loose as possible and suitable for mixing with organic fertilizers.
- per 1 sq. m area, 1 tablespoon of potassium and phosphorus and 4 kg of compost are mixed;
- if clay soil predominates on the site, you need to add 7 liters of river sand.
Sometimes all these mineral and organic complexes can be replaced with baked ash.
Planting calendula in the garden
Marigold flowers are grown only from seeds and can be sown immediately in open ground.
Interesting! The most commonly used method is growing seedlings, because in this case flowering is planned much earlier in time. This is especially important in the field of floriculture in cold regions.
Calendula seeds can be sown immediately in open ground and it is better to do this in the fall, before the onset of frost, or in the spring, when the snow has completely melted.
Calendula is sufficiently frost-resistant, so it can begin to grow a root system already at +4 oC, and the seeds can easily survive winter frosts.
When sowing seeds in autumn, it is important to guess the period when frosts will not yet occur, but also so that there is no sudden warming, which will contribute to untimely germination of the seed.
In this case, you can use a trick and prepare grooves in advance into which the seeds are sown immediately after the soil freezes. After this, they are covered with prepared soil at room temperature.
The specific landing pattern looks like this:
- the area is schematically divided into segments based on the intended pattern;
- in general, the distance between the recesses should be at least 40 cm, between the rows - 50 cm;
- the depth of the grooves should not exceed 4 cm, otherwise the seeds will not germinate;
- 2-3 seeds are planted in each hole, and seedlings - one at a time.
All these manipulations can be done only after the site has been selected correctly. It should have sufficient light throughout most of the day. If shade predominates, the calendula will be very elongated and have small, sparse blooms.
Further care of the plant
Growing calendula takes a minimum of time and does not require much effort. The main thing in this case is to carry out the correct agricultural planting techniques and subsequently fertilize, water and weed the soil.
Watering calendula in open ground
The intensity of this procedure directly depends on the amount of precipitation in the season. In a hot climate, a hard crust may appear on the soil surface, which will disrupt air exchange in the root system. After each moistening, it is advisable to loosen the soil or not allow it to dry out to such a state.
When watering, do not allow the liquid to stagnate, which will lead to rotting of the root system. Regular irrigation of the soil will allow calendula to survive any hot period, and a lack of moisture can reduce the duration of flowering and the number of buds formed.
Feeding schedule
The composition of the complex mixture should primarily depend on the initial characteristics of the soil in which the calendula is planted. This plant is quite unpretentious, so it takes root well even in non-fertile areas.
Important! Once every 30 days, you can apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers, while maintaining the exact dosage. A pale tint of the inflorescences will indicate an excess of nitrogen.
For fertilizing, it is good to use organic fertilizers, which consist of nettle infusion, a solution of bird droppings or mullein. It is advisable to add boron to these complexes.
Pinching calendula bushes
Pinching allows you to extend the flowering period and is quite simple to do. The first corollas are cut off before they begin to fade. This concept includes a procedure such as removing the tip located above the main growth point, where the leaf blade is located. This part must be removed using sharpened scissors, and as a result several new shoots and inflorescences will begin to form.
Seed collection time
You can collect seeds from mid-summer, when the first boxes are formed after the first wave of flowering. Only clear and sunny weather is suitable for this. The seeds must be collected together with the upper fragment of the peduncle, and it must be as ripe as possible. To prevent self-seeding of calendula, from the moment the bud withers, a homemade gauze bag is put on it.
Plant care
Planting calendula and caring for flowers is not difficult. Due to its unpretentious nature and easy propagation, maintaining the plant will not cause any difficulties. For good growth and abundant flowering, you need to choose a well-lit place for planting, but at the same time the flower develops well in diffused light and in partial shade. However, with a lack of light, the plant can develop powdery mildew, and its decorative appearance also deteriorates.
Plants require regular and abundant watering, especially during the period of sprouting. An adult plant can easily survive the dry period of the year without watering, but this will reduce the number of flowers on the bush.
For long-lasting flowering, the inflorescences should be cut frequently. This procedure has two goals: firstly, the calendula is prepared for further drying, and secondly, the plant reacts to cutting the flowers with even more luxuriant flowering.
Collect flowers in the morning in clear weather, after the dew has dried. Only the flowers themselves with a small fragment of the peduncle are cut off. Cutting time comes when most of the flowers on the bush have bloomed. The plant easily propagates by self-sowing. To avoid this, collect baskets with seeds before they begin to fall off. As soon as most of the seeds have darkened, the basket is cut off, the remaining seeds quietly ripen when dried.
In addition to the decorative effect, marigolds bring considerable benefits to the soil where they grow. They are able to disinfect soil from pathogenic microbes and save nearby garden crops and flowers from various harmful insects.
Features of calendula
Such a herbaceous plant has pubescence, which is a glandular fluff. The flowers can be yellow or orange. They are multi-flowered apical baskets, which include sterile tubular inner florets (often darker in color) and outer pistillate fertile pseudolingulate florets. Simple alternate oval leaf blades can be elongated or lanceolate. The fruits are achenes, which can be curved or ring-shaped, and they are placed in 2 or 3 rows. Flowering begins in June and ends in November. A lot of seeds are produced, and they remain viable for 5 years. Marigolds have been cultivated as decorative flowers since the 16th century.
Calendula. Planting and care.
Diseases and pests
Calendula flowers are affected by gray rot: the leaves begin to darken and become covered with brown, black spots. Such plants should be immediately removed from the flower garden and destroyed by burning. As a preventive measure, the amount of fertilizer applied should be reconsidered; perhaps, their amount should be reduced by an order of magnitude. Too dense plantings can provoke the formation of disease.
Powdery mildew forms a white coating on the stem and leaves. Over time, the new formation darkens, the decorative appearance of the plant deteriorates, the flower largely stops growing and loses its cold-resistant qualities. In case of severe damage by mold or powdery mildew, plants are treated with fungicides.
Of the pests, the plant is attacked only by green and black aphids; marigolds repel other insects. When fighting aphids, you should not only destroy the drivers themselves, but also their carriers. Ants often plant aphids on stems and leaves for further reproduction and use. Treatment with special preparations helps against pests.
Planting and transplanting
Before planting, you should consider the seed material. Plants with more flowers grow from narrow and strongly curved seeds than from large and slightly curved ones. When choosing a place for planting herbaceous plants in open ground, preference is given to moist, fertilized and loose soil. The area should be bright, preferably protected from strong winds. Calendula is grown not only in flower beds and flowerpots, but also next to garden crops, since the plants can repel butterflies. Planting marigolds near potato beds saves them from the Colorado potato beetle; spider mites also do not like being near calendula.
Planting calendula next to asters and gladioli will not only decorate the garden composition, but will also save them from blackleg and thrips. However, do not forget that planting too close to garden crops can cause a slowdown in their growth, since the roots of the medicinal plant have allopathic properties. This fact should be taken into account when planting and growing calendula from seeds next to radishes, basil and other garden crops.
Due to the strong root system, marigolds are not replanted; if necessary, it is better to sow the seeds in a new place.
When to plant calendula?
Marigolds reproduce by seeds. The timing of planting calendula depends on when gardeners plan to see the flowers bloom. If the seeds are planted in the ground in the spring, flowering will begin no earlier than in 2 - 2.5 months. For earlier flowering, the seedling planting method is used. To obtain cut flowers, seeds are planted from March to April; to decorate flower beds, seeds are sown in late February or early March. To maintain constant flowering of calendula, it is sown at different times, starting in early spring and ending in November.
Landing
To grow seedlings, calendula seeds are planted in a greenhouse in April, in prepared soil, which consists of half peat, 1/3 humus, the rest - sand and lime. Young seedlings are planted in open ground in a permanent place in May, when the possibility of night frosts is completely excluded. When propagated by seeds, calendula is planted in early spring. The beds are prepared, the seeds are planted at a distance of 30 - 40 cm from each other to a depth of 2 - 4 cm. If a denser and denser planting is planned, then the seeds are sown at a distance of 7 - 10 cm from each other. Young shoots appear in 7 - 14 days, the first flowering will occur in 2 - 2.5 months.
Transfer
Before planting calendula seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to subject it to a hardening procedure for seven days. To do this, the boxes with seedlings are taken out of the greenhouse onto the balcony or terrace for 10 - 15 minutes. Every day this time is increased by 5 - 7 minutes. Young shoots should get used to the new climate and, when they are planted in a permanent place, the change of environment will not be stressful for them. They are planted in open ground in May, when the possibility of night frosts has disappeared. But even if the night cold returns, it will not affect the seedlings in any way; it is not afraid of mild spring frosts.
Calendula after flowering
How and when to collect seeds
Calendula seeds need to be collected when they are almost fully ripe. In order not to be late, a gauze bag is put on the fading inflorescence, into which the ripe seeds are sprinkled. The problem is that calendula seeds do not ripen, which is why it is important not to miss the moment of their ripening. Otherwise, you risk abundant self-seeding.
Calendula in winter
Garden calendula is an annual crop, so in the fall its plant remains are disposed of and the area is dug up.
Medicinal properties
The use of calendula in folk medicine is very wide. Many doctors of traditional treatment note the high effectiveness and healing properties of calendula.
Calendula treats so many conditions and is used in so many different areas of medicine that answering the question of what calendula helps with can take quite a long time.
Marigold flowers are irreplaceable in the treatment of skin diseases, acne, wounds, lichens, boils. Calendula can significantly speed up the restoration of damaged skin areas and has an anti-inflammatory, tonic, and healing effect. Due to the fact that calendula contains vitamin E and other active components, it has a beneficial effect on the epidermis and the regeneration of skin cells.
In the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract, it has an anti-inflammatory effect; calendula preparations are useful for gastritis, colitis, constipation, ulcers, and indigestion.
Calendula during pregnancy (when used topically) helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks on the skin, has a general calming, sedative effect, improves sleep and appetite. However, during pregnancy you should be extremely careful when using calendula infusions. Use them only after consulting a doctor.
For diseases of the respiratory tract and ENT organs, sore throat, calendula is used as an infusion for daily rinsing. For diseases of the larynx and sore throat, calendula effectively relieves pain and reduces the inflammatory process. For otitis media, calendula tincture is used as ear drops: it can reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and speed up the healing process.
Rinsing the sinuses with a solution helps eliminate infection and prevent the occurrence of colds.
For diseases of the organs of vision, prepare a weak decoction of calendula for instillation into the eyes.
Rinsing teeth with calendula decoction is used to eliminate plaque on teeth, bad breath, and to prevent gum disease.
For diseases of the genitourinary system, menopause or prostatitis, calendula significantly reduces possible pain. Thanks to its antibacterial, tonic and anti-inflammatory properties, the general condition of the body improves. Calendula is quite effective and can, along with general strengthening of the body, significantly alleviate the course of various diseases.
Due to its unique composition and beneficial properties, calendula has no analogues; it is possible to obtain similar qualities only in a complex of several medicinal herbs.
Chemical composition
Calendula flowers contain carotenoids, which help relieve inflammation and have an anti-cancer effect.
Sterols help improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system and remove excess cholesterol. Triterpenoids stabilize blood sugar levels and tone the immune system.
Flavonoids help restore affected areas of the mucous membranes, remove toxins from the body, have an antispasmodic, choleretic effect, and prevent the negative effects of ultraviolet rays.
Essential oils support the immune system and have antibiotic effects. Coumarins maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and reduce the chance of blood clots. Lactone has an antitumor effect.
Calenden promotes rapid healing of wounds and relieves inflammation. Among the vitamins and minerals present: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, silicon, aluminum, selenium, lead, zinc, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, organic acids, in particular salicylic acid, thanks to which marigolds are in great demand in the effective treatment of colds and viral diseases.
The active components in the plant have a strengthening effect, normalize fluid balance in the body, support cardiac activity, strengthen bone and muscle tissue, regulate the process of hematopoiesis and oxygen metabolism in tissue cells, have a calming effect, eliminate inflammatory processes, affect the formation of red blood cells, participate in metabolism and have a positive effect on the condition of the epidermis.
Pharmacological properties
Long-term practice of using medicinal herbs has proven that calendula has a wide range of applications. Numerous medicinal components obtained from marigold flowers are aimed at treating and preventing various diseases. By studying a medicinal plant, its chemical composition, morphological characteristics, geography of growth and growing conditions, tasks are set for the procurement, storage and identification of places for collecting the most useful specimens.
The pharmacological activity of marigold-based drugs is due to the presence of carotenoids and flavonoids, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
What are the benefits of calendula - medicinal properties
The beneficial properties of calendula are used in herbal medicine and for the prevention of various ailments: digestive disorders, the fight against high blood pressure, diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, skin, and ailments of the genitourinary system. There are many options for how calendula is beneficial for the body. The active substances, essential oils and vitamin E that make up calendula can trigger the protective mechanisms of the immune system, speed up the healing process or alleviate the course of current diseases.
Indications
Calendula-based preparations have a wide range of applications. Various dosage forms based on marigolds are used in the treatment of infectious diseases (flu, acute respiratory infections). The plant is useful for skin rashes, herpes, boils, wounds, burns, cracked lips. Calendula tincture for facial acne is a safe and very effective remedy that reduces irritation and has a positive effect on the condition of facial skin.
Calendula tincture for rinsing reduces inflammation in the oral cavity and improves the condition of upper respiratory tract diseases.
Decoctions and lotions with calendula relieve swelling, promote the healing of cracks in the mucous membranes, help with anal fissures and hemorrhoids, remove stagnation of bile, and are prescribed for liver diseases. In case of diseases of the female genitourinary system, the chance of the formation of cervical erosion and thrush is minimized. Relieves inflammation of the intestinal mucous membranes.
Calendula tincture for otitis media can reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and promote a speedy recovery. A bath with the addition of a decoction of plant flowers is very useful for the delicate skin of babies. It helps with diaper rash, wounds and abrasions.
Contraindications
Medicinal herbs, like any medicine, have beneficial properties and contraindications. Calendula is not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The main danger is from calendula juice, since the components in its composition can provoke a miscarriage, increase toxicosis, and cause vomiting.
Marigolds can lower blood pressure, making the use of medicinal herbs extremely dangerous in case of hypotension. The use of marigolds is not recommended during periods of exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases or diseases of the digestive system, as they can aggravate the course of the disease.
Children under 12 years of age are not recommended to take calendula in any dosage form. Marigolds are considered a mild allergen, but people with allergies to Asteraceae plants (chrysanthemums, daisies and others) should do a skin test before use.
Side effects
Due to the use of the plant, some adverse reactions of the body are possible. Marigolds are incompatible with some medications and other medicinal herbs. When using medicinal herbs together with various sedatives, including barbiturates, pain in the abdomen and bitterness in the mouth may occur. When mixing medicinal herbs of mint, celery, valerian, pepper and other plants with a calming effect, the use of marigold will increase the calming effect.
For bronchial asthma, medicinal preparations based on the plant can cause Quincke's edema and urticaria.
Overdose
As a result of long-term practice of using marigolds to treat diseases, cases of overdose have not been observed.
Calendula flower: description
Calendula is a flower common in temperate climates on all continents. It is decorative, it can be planted in flowerbeds, arabesques, mixborders and used as a potted and indoor plant. The peculiar aroma emanating from the stems and flowers is soothing and relaxing.
Structure of a calendula flower
The original habitat of the grass has not been identified. Natural thickets of various species are found in western Europe, on the Mediterranean coast and in southwest Asia. Perennial forms of calendula are found there.
Common types are herbs with a height of 20 to 70 cm. If the soil on which the plant is located is rich in organic matter, then the bushes are very spreading and can reach 70-80 cm in diameter. Let’s take a closer look at what the most common calendula looks like.
Calendula seeds
According to the botanical description, all representatives of the Calendula genus are herbaceous plants. The shoots are light green, ribbed. The leaves are oval, smooth edges, light green in color. All parts of the bush are covered with hairs that form pubescence, sticky and odorous on the shoots, more or less pronounced in different varieties. The root system is taproot.
Inflorescences are baskets of orange or other colors that contain tubular (in the center) and reed flowers (petals) with pistils and stigmas. After pollination they produce seeds. Reed flowers are sterile. The seeds of calendula flowers vary in shape, mostly curved, light gray or sandy in color. They can be picked slightly greenish and dried under a canopy or indoors.
For your information! Calendula herb in the garden has the ability to repel insect pests, and its infusions can be used as a natural insecticide.
When does calendula bloom?
Depending on the variety, flowering occurs 40-50 days after germination. Therefore, to understand when calendula will bloom, you need to remember the date of its germination.
Usually the bushes bloom at the end of May, and the height of flowering is observed in June. At this time, a massive collection of material is carried out. After removing some of the flowers, the shoots continue to grow and form new buds. Thus, calendula blooms throughout the summer until frost sets in.
Beneficial properties of calendula
The benefits of the herb are determined by the chemical composition of the raw materials. The flowers of the plant contain:
- carotenoids;
- essential oils;
- salicylic acid;
- flavonoids;
- saponins;
- alkaloids in small quantities.
Type of packaging of suppositories with calendula
The rich composition determines the beneficial properties of calendula herb:
- bactericidal - effective against streptococci and staphylococci;
- wound healing;
- anti-inflammatory;
- calming.
In folk medicine, marigolds are used internally in the form of water infusions to improve bile secretion and as a sedative. Externally, alcohol and vodka tinctures, water infusions - for gargling and sore gums.
Calendula tablets
The pharmaceutical industry produces ointments and tinctures based on marigolds. The flower is part of the drug "Rotokan" for gargling. Ointments are used to treat burns, difficult-to-heal wounds and ulcers. The medicine "Caleflon" is an antiulcer drug, suppositories are used for anal fissures and hemorrhoids, and women's diseases. Tablets are used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Note! Since the active substances are potent, there are contraindications to the use of marigold preparations.
Application in cosmetology
Calendula is widely used in various facial and body skin care products. Thanks to a wide range of beneficial properties, marigolds are used as an anti-inflammatory, regenerating, antiseptic, rejuvenating, and healing agent. Calendula for the face is used in the form of infusion, ointments, creams, lotions, and lotions. You can simply brew marigold flowers with boiling water and use the infusion for rubbing.
Calendula tincture is very effective against acne; it reduces inflammation, cleanses and revitalizes facial skin. Calendula tincture against acne reduces the risk of infection, tightens pores, reduces oily skin, and activates the skin's natural defenses.
The use of calendula oil in various cosmetology products enriches them with useful substances and enhances the effect of their use. The use of calendula in cosmetics allows you to create an almost universal product. The plant has such a wide range of applications that it is perhaps the leader among face and body skin care products.
Any body cream with calendula has an excellent anti-aging effect. Various masks, conditioners, lotions, and tonics with calendula will help get rid of and prevent possible skin problems.
Calendula tincture for hair
Calendula tincture helps improve the condition of the hair and scalp. Due to their bactericidal and antiseptic properties, marigold flowers help well in the fight against dandruff, hair brittleness, various inflammations and lesions of the scalp, and increased sebum secretion. Calendula can enhance hair growth and stop hair loss. For rinsing hair, calendula is simply irreplaceable. Thanks to it, hair gains strength and shine.
It is very useful to rinse your hair with an infusion of flowers after each wash. Calendula oil can relieve dandruff, itching and irritation of the scalp. To do this, just rub the oil into the scalp for 10 - 15 minutes before each wash.
Calendula tincture for acne
For problematic oily facial skin, prone to acne and irritation, use marigold tincture. You can buy salicylic lotion based on calendula, which is indispensable for the prevention and treatment of acne. It is enough to apply a little lotion to the tumor. This will be enough to reduce inflammation, speed up healing, and improve skin condition. Calendula tincture can increase blood circulation in the area of acne formation, thereby stimulating processes for resorption, smoothing out stagnant spots and acne marks.
Calendula will only help if the procedure is carried out regularly; you need to treat your face several times a day. You can only moisten problem areas or completely wipe your face. If acne and pimples occur, calendula should be used at least 6 times a day until complete healing and improvement of skin condition.
Calendula tincture for face
When caring for facial skin, calendula helps tighten pores, reduces facial oiliness, and gives the skin a healthy and fresh look. Calendula is very useful for dry skin, helps get rid of freckles and age spots, soothes irritated skin, quickly heals small cuts, increases skin tone and regeneration, smoothes out fine wrinkles.
Calendula tincture for the face, depending on its strength, can affect the condition of the skin to varying degrees. To prevent and improve the health of tissue cells, wipe the face with calendula tincture daily. This will help possible small cuts and wounds heal quickly.
The medium strength of the tincture is used for oily skin: when rubbed, the oily sheen will disappear, sebum secretion will be normalized, and the risk of acne will be minimized.
A strong infusion for the face is used in combination with creams and masks. This tandem will enhance the effect of the healing effects of calendula. Calendula oil for the face gives excellent results when used for skin prone to acne and oily sheen. It can also protect the skin from exposure to ultraviolet rays, wind, and frost.
Use at home
It is not difficult to prepare a medicine or cosmetic product based on calendula herb at home. Decoctions are prepared by simmering marigold flowers filled with water in a water bath for 15 to 25 minutes. It is not difficult to make a calendula tincture at home; a ready-made alcohol tincture can be bought at a pharmacy.
For home use, you need to prepare your own calendula flowers. To do this, collect healthy and open flowers and scatter them on a flat, even, dry surface. The room should be cool and well ventilated, and the flowers should be turned over periodically. It is very easy to find out when the flowers have dried. To do this, just lightly press on the flower: if the petals fall off, the flowers are dry. Store flowers in paper or cotton bags in dark, dry rooms, shelf life - 1 year.
At home, calendula oil is prepared as follows: a glass jar is filled loosely with marigold flowers and poured with warm vegetable or olive oil.
To prepare the oil, many cosmetologists advise using organic olive oil; it is of higher quality and, in combination with flowers, enhances the healing effect. The jar is placed in a warm place for seven days, shaking occasionally, after which the oil is filtered into a dark glass container and stored in a cool place.
Growing calendula from seeds
Sowing in open ground
If you want to spend less effort, you should sow the seeds in open soil in April or October. In spring, you should start sowing after the soil dries out and warms up after the massive melting of the snow cover. To check the readiness of the soil for sowing this plant, you need to collect a handful of soil in the garden and squeeze it in your fist, and then you need to throw it from a hundred centimeter height. If the soil is ready for sowing, the lump should completely crumble. The soil must be prepared for sowing. So, approximately half a month before the planned sowing date, it will need to be dug up, while adding fertilizer. So, per 1 square meter you should take 20 grams of potassium chloride and superphosphate, 3 to 4 kilograms of humus and 30 grams of urea. However, experienced gardeners recommend doing this procedure in the autumn, only in this case nitrogen-containing fertilizer will need to be added to the soil in the spring months. Seeds should be buried 10–20 mm into the soil. In this case, a distance of 25 to 30 centimeters should be maintained between the bushes, the distance between the rows should be from 0.6 to 0.7 m. If such plants are grown as medicinal raw materials, then the distance between the bushes should be from 7 to 10 centimeters, and the row spacing should be from 0.3 to 0.4 meters. If everything is done correctly, the first seedlings will appear within 7 days. 15–20 days after the appearance of the first shoots, the plant will need to be thinned out, and a distance of at least 25–35 centimeters should be maintained between seedlings. Those seedlings that are extra need not be thrown away, but rather replanted. The fact is that calendula tolerates transplants very well. Flowering will begin approximately 2.5 months after sowing.
Sowing seedlings
The seedling method of growing marigolds helps to bring the moment of flowering closer. It is also recommended to grow low-growing varieties using seedlings. Sowing of seeds should be done in the last days of March or the first days of April. You can sow them either in individual cups or in a container, using a flower soil mixture. The seeds should be buried only a couple of centimeters. The crops should be covered with film and placed in a well-lit, warm (18 to 20 degrees) place, protected from direct sunlight.
How to care for seedlings
After the seedlings appear (usually this happens after 6–8 days), the shelter must be removed and the containers must be moved to a place with a lower temperature (from 14 to 15 degrees). Such plants require timely watering and fertilizing once every half month or ten days, using a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizer. When the marigolds have a pair of true leaves, they will need to be planted in individual containers or in a larger container, while maintaining a distance of 5 centimeters between the plants.
Calendula. Seedling.
Dosage form
Due to its wide range of uses, calendula is used in various dosage forms to treat many diseases. However, many drugs are unsafe and their use requires special caution. When purchasing a medicine at a pharmacy, you must study the instructions for use of alcohol tincture, lotion, ointment and other drugs. All dosage forms should be used in strictly prescribed doses, otherwise side effects may occur.
Although marigold flowers have a wide range of different beneficial substances, overuse of calendula can lead to negative consequences. Calendula tea is beneficial, but at the same time harmful if consumed in excess of the norm, since it is drunk only for medicinal purposes.
Calendula decoction
The decoction is a universal remedy for treating a wide range of diseases due to its rich set of biologically active components. It is recommended by many doctors. How to brew calendula flowers so that they impart all the beneficial properties to the decoction? To do this, place two tablespoons of marigold flowers in a pan, add one liter of water, boil over low heat for 15 minutes, then remove from heat, wrap the pan in a towel and leave for about an hour. After this, the finished broth is filtered.
Tea
The healing drink is used only for medicinal purposes; it is not suitable for daily use. Tea with calendula is useful for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that occur in a chronic form, helps relieve inflammation, and has a healing, anti-ulcer effect.
You can drink calendula for respiratory diseases; it can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Also, a healing drink can increase the body’s resistance to various diseases, remove toxins and waste, and improve the functioning of the digestive system, kidneys and liver. Calendula tea is not recommended for people who are prone to allergies, pregnant or breastfeeding, or with low blood pressure.
Alcohol tincture
A good remedy for various diseases is alcohol tincture of calendula. Used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Gargling with calendula can eliminate inflammation, relieve pain, and significantly speed up recovery. You can make an alcohol infusion of calendula yourself. For this you need 4 tbsp. l. pour fresh flowers with 1 glass of alcohol solution, which is obtained by mixing equal parts of pure alcohol and cold boiled water. Alcohol can be easily replaced with vodka, which does not need to be diluted to prepare the tincture. The mixture is tightly closed, put in a dark place for a week, after which the liquid is filtered and stored in a cool place.
A course of using calendula tincture cures a number of serious diseases, and also prevents the occurrence of infectious diseases of the throat. For prevention, doctors recommend gargling after each visit to a place with a large crowd of people, especially during the cold season and the period of colds.
How to gargle with tincture?
Is it possible to gargle with calendula for diseases of the upper respiratory tract? Gargling with calendula is an effective procedure for pain and inflammation, including sore throat, pharyngitis, stomatitis, colds, acute respiratory infections and other viral infections.
Calendula tincture for gargling can be prepared at home: 1 tbsp. l. dried flowers are poured with 1 cup of boiling water, left for 20-30 minutes, filtered and cooled, used warm.
For the rinsing procedure, an alcohol tincture is also used, which can be made at home or purchased at a pharmacy. The solution requires 1 tsp. Dilute alcohol tincture of calendula in 1 glass of warm boiled water. You should gargle with calendula at least 4 times a day for the period recommended by your doctor. The procedure of rinsing with alcohol infusion is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, children under 12 years of age, and people prone to allergies. An adult should explain to the child the procedure for gargling with calendula tincture and monitor this process each time.
Calendula ointment
The recipe for making calendula ointment is very simple: just mix Vaseline with crushed marigold flowers or add a few drops of calendula oil to Vaseline. The use of calendula ointment can restore skin cells, relieve inflammation, eliminate irritation, heal burns, wounds, cuts and other various injuries to the skin. Daily application of ointment to the legs and feet helps combat varicose veins. Thanks to a large range of active substances, calendula helps restore damaged skin on the legs and also prevents the formation of cracks in the heels.
Calendula oil
Used for external use. Thanks to its numerous properties, calendula oil is used to nourish and soften sensitive and dry skin. In principle, it has a good effect on any skin type: it has a good healing effect, helps cope with burns, cuts, abrasions, bruises, cracks on the lips, and wounds. Protective functions are manifested when used in frosty and sunny weather. Calendula oil improves blood circulation, tones tissues, and reduces the symptoms of varicose veins. Reduces inflammation, reduces itching, irritation, and rash.
Douching with calendula
In gynecology, the plant is highly valued for its ability to disinfect, disinfect, heal, inhibit and even stop the course of many inflammatory processes in the vagina and cervix.
Douching with calendula is an indispensable therapy for thrush, acute and chronic colpitis, vulvitis candidiasis, vaginal inflammation and other diseases. Only a gynecologist prescribes the procedure after a complete examination.
Douching in itself can bring not only benefits, but also harm, so they are prescribed only in complex therapy. With any douching, the microflora is washed out, which can provoke the emergence of new infectious diseases.
Douching with medicinal herbs is contraindicated during pregnancy; it can cause premature birth, allergies and vaginal dryness. The procedure cannot be performed after childbirth, surgery or acute inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs. The decoction is prepared from 2 tbsp. l. dry raw materials and 0.5 liters of boiling water. The decoction must be infused for 2 - 3 hours, after which the liquid is filtered, cooled and diluted with boiled water in equal proportions. Douching lasts up to 5 days, carried out 2 - 3 times a day.
Popular types
Of the entire diversity of the genus, two popular species have gone to the general public: field and medicinal calendula.
Field
Wild subspecies. Loves to grow in abandoned areas and front gardens. Extremely tenacious, the bushes grow up to 30cm in height and bloom in small yellow inflorescences.
Medicinal
Nowadays, medicinal calendula is grown on an industrial scale:
Substances contained in the plant promote wound healing, disinfect them, destroy bacteria, relieve fever and painful inflammation. It is not surprising that in the times of Ancient Greece miraculous qualities were attributed to it.
If it is necessary to rid the body of excess bile, then calendula infusion has strong choleretic properties.
A tincture from the plant will help cure severe sore throat.
In the form of an ointment based on calendula, it promotes the healing of burns, bruises, and can cope with the disinfection of serious wounds.
Also, the tincture can help fight gastrointestinal infections and liver inflammation.
Application in landscape design
Marigolds will easily fit into any flower arrangement and will be appropriate in almost any corner of the garden.
Low-growing varieties are used to decorate borders. They look great in a flowerbed with decorative blue and blue flowers, for example, felicia, cornflowers, ageratum.
To create a rustic garden, marigolds will look good with mallow, purple morning glory, and chamomile.
Due to the ability of calendula to disinfect the soil at the planting site and repel many insects, gardeners try to plant this medicinal plant in different places on the site.
Planting calendula in open ground
What time to plant
After the plants have 5 or 6 leaves, they should be transplanted into open soil. As a rule, this time falls in the second half of May. But it should be remembered that before planting, the seedlings will need to be hardened off, and this despite the fact that these flowers are quite winter-hardy and tolerate spring frosts well at night. To harden the plants, you need to transfer them every day for a short period of time to a covered terrace or balcony for seven days.
For planting, you need to choose a lighted area, and the soil should be moist, well-drained and saturated with nutrients. Experienced gardeners try to plant such flowers in the inter-rows of other garden and vegetable crops, which is a preventive measure against certain harmful insects (ticks, butterflies and their larvae). However, you cannot plant such a plant next to basil or radishes, as otherwise they will grow very slowly.
How to plant
Seedlings should be planted in open soil using the same scheme as when sowing such a flower in the garden. So, between the bushes you need to maintain a distance of 25 to 30 centimeters, and between the rows you need to leave a distance of 0.6 to 0.7 m. At the same time, for plants grown to create medicinal raw materials, you will need a distance of 7–10 centimeters, while the row spacing should be from 0.3 to 0.4 meters. Plants begin to bloom 40 to 50 days after sowing the seeds.
This plant can reproduce independently by self-sowing.
