500 Mixed Colors FANCY MIX POT MARIGOLD Calendula Officinalis Flower Seeds

Calendula officinalis (pot marigold, ruddles, common marigold, garden marigold, English marigold, or Scottish marigold) [2] is a plant in the genus calendula of the family Asteraceae. It is probably native to southern Europe, though its long history of cultivation makes its precise origin unknown, and it may possibly be of garden origin. It is also widely naturalized further north in Europe (north to southern England) and elsewhere in warm temperate regions of the world. A hardy annual, from southern Europe, the pot marigold is one of the most reliable cool season annuals. Flowers are single or double and usually yellow or orange. Pot marigold will grow one to two feet tall and require full to partial sun. As an herb the petals are much prized for their coloring and flavor. The colonists used the petals to color butter and cheese and added the dry petals to soup for flavor. In USDA hardiness zones 9b, 10, and 11, calendula officinalis is generally planted in the fall for winter and spring color. Marigolds make an excellent cut flower, and attracts bees, butterflies, and birds. They also keep garden pests away, so it is not uncommon to find them planted around vegetable gardens. They do, however, attract the good stuff such as bees and butterflies. Marigolds can easily be grown in containers, earning the their nickname of Pot Marigold. LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun . . . SOIL / WATER: Average - Dry. BLOOM TIME: Summer. HARDINESS ZONE: Annual.