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Companion flower · Easy to grow

Calendula

Calendula officinalis · also Pot marigold, English marigold

A tough, sunny cool-season flower with edible petals. It attracts hoverflies and ladybirds that eat aphids, and keeps flowering through autumn, winter and spring when little else does. A great partner for brassicas and salad greens.

When to plant where you live

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Add calendula to my garden

Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Bon BonDwarf and early; suits pots
  • Pacific Beauty mixTall stems in orange, yellow and apricot

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    30 cm apart, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun or part shade.

  2. Water

    Regular water while establishing; fairly drought hardy once growing.

  3. Feed

    A little compost at planting is plenty.

  4. Pick, from about 6 weeks

    Pick flowers as they open; petals go in salads or are dried for tea.

Good to know

  • Plant between brassicas and lettuce to bring in aphid-eating insects
  • Keep picking flowers for more blooms
  • Fades in summer heat; sow again in autumn

Common problems

  • Powdery mildew late in the seasonspace for airflow and pull tired plants
  • Aphids on budsthey draw in ladybirds; hose off if heavy

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about calendulaAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing calendulaQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Wildlife

Good for: bees, butterflies, insects.

Where this information comes from
  • Sustainable Gardening Australia: companion planting (companions, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia: calendula fact sheet (growing, low confidence)
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Calendula (non-toxic) (toxicity, medium confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 28 Oct 2026. Version 1.