Calendula officinalis Ollioules Orange Greenheart - Garden Marigold seeds

The Calendula officinalis Greenheart Orange belongs to the family Asteraceae, of which it has the characteristic inflorescence in the form of a daisy called a head. This is a recent variety, selected for its rather unusual color. The plant, an annual, forms in a few months an upright clump composed of ramified stems that give it a rather bushy appearance. At maturity, this Greenheart Orange variety will reach 60 cm (23.6 in) in height when flowering and 45 cm (17.7 in) in spread. Its lanceolate leaves are velvety and very aromatic when crushed. Their bright green color provides a beautiful setting for its beautiful orange flowers, whose heart curiously takes on a green hue when they bloom. Its flowering starts in June and regularly continues until the end of summer, attracting many pollinating insects. Each head measures approximately 5-6 cm (2 - 2.4 in) in diameter. It is composed of a center of fertile florets surrounded by numerous long fringed "petals", which are actually ligulate flowers gathered in a crown. This crown opens in the sun and closes at night or in cloudy weather. The garden marigold seeds spread easily in various ways: by the action of the wind, by falling to the ground, but also by clinging to clothing and animal fur because these small crescents are clawed. They self-sow easily, as their germination is not inhibited by the cold. The seedlings are content with all types of soil, as long as they are in the sun for a good part of the day.

The Greenheart Orange Calendula is a valuable ally for quickly filling a flower bed or decorating a sunny terrace. Its beautiful flowers, very long-lasting in a vase, allow for making a quantity of bouquets for the home. The garden marigold naturally finds its place in a flower bed and in a pot whether in isolation or in a group. It combines beautifully with the wide palette of dahlias and complements the airy grasses. We can install it in small touches amidst the gray foliage of artemisias and stachys, with California poppies, red or blue shrubby salvias, cornflowers, or flood it with greenery, by combining it with tansies, Kochia childsii, or white, yellow or red ground cover roses that will harmonize with its rich orange shades. Calendula is also an edible flower, to be consumed in moderation, which can be used in a salad, in soup or in desserts. Some believe that its flavor resembles that of pepper.

Listed in gardens since the 12th century, the officinal marigold has virtues exploited in many fields. It is first and foremost a dye plant, used as a pigment. But it is also used in cosmetics, pharmacology, and homeopathy for its soothing, astringent, healing, anti-inflammatory, and hepatic properties, among others. Finally, its nickname of Faux Saffron comes from its culinary use. Indeed, the marigold advantageously replaces this spice by coloring rice dishes, as well as stews, soups, and herbal teas. Raw, it flavors cheeses, salads, and even butter. Moreover, it has long been established in the vegetable garden as an ally of other edibles, as it repels nematodes and attracts many pollinating insects.