Marigold Flower – Calendula Officinalis

 

This common and beautiful flower is often called Pot Marigold. Marigold has bright yellow or orange daisy-like flowers. The plant may grow to be about 70 cm (2 ft.) tall.

Marigold is very easy to cultivate from seeds.

This is a hardy annual which blooms all summer long.

Marigold is an absolute favorite in many gardens. It is quite decorative. 

As an extra benefit the marigold flowers can be used to make tea or used in cooking. Marigold is a useful plant indeed.

 

 

 

 Culinary Uses

Marigold flowers are edible and can be used in cooking either as a fresh herb or as dried herbs. Actually the whole plant is edible, but it is common to only use the marigold flower.

The center part of the flower does not taste very good. Use the marigold pedals. The flower pedals are used in cooking.

 Marigold pedals add a pleasing color to dull salads. You can use marigold flowers in rice dishes. Marigold flowers also taste great in egg or cheese dishes.

Many will add marigold flowers when baking bread.  Why not try some marigold buns?

 

 

 Herbal Remedies

 

Calendula tea has many health benefits.

Drinking calendula tea a week before the next menstruation may very well help reduce the pains, mood swings and discomforts that many women experience monthly.

Calendula tea is often used to assist the healing of swollen lymph glands.

Marigold is antibacterial and will help fight fungus. It is favorable to drink marigold tea to help strengthen the immune system.

Calendula Cream

Marigold is probably one of the best herbs for skin treatment.  Calendula cream is a natural herbal skin remedy. It can be used to treat most minor skin problems.

Put calendula cream on cuts and scrapes. This will speed up the healing process.

Calendula (marigold) cream is very good to use on your baby if your baby has diaper rash. This same cream is also great for sore nipples that breast feeding moms often experience.

Calendula cream can also be used on minor burns and sunburn.

If acne is your problem you may want to try treating your skin with marigold cream.

Calendula cream is such a wonderful skin remedy. Calendula or marigold (as we popularly call this herb) is antiseptic and safe to use on all skin types.  It should always be within easy reach in all homes.

 Check out Amazon Calendula Products

 

Folklore

 

In Ancient Rome they used marigold to make broth. The marigold broth was thought to be a good remedy against depression. Drinking this was supposed to lift their spirits.

During the Middle Ages this flower was called Mary’s Gold in honor of the Virgin Mary. This was a time and age when many people were superstitious in Europe.

Tons of different superstitions flourished around the continent about all sorts of things. Marigold was no exception.

It was told that if a maiden wished to get the attention of a young man it would help to keep a marigold flower in her pocket.

Keeping marigold flowers in your pocket if you had to appear in court would influence the judge to treat you kindly.

Fresh marigold flowers in a room would bring positive energy into the home.

If marigold flowers showed up in your dreams it was considered a good omen.

Marigold flowers in the bath water would help the person taking the bath win respect.

In Mexico marigold is often associated with honoring a dearly departed and a symbol of grieving. One legend tells the story that the marigold appeared in the blood covered fields after the Spanish conquers had slaughtered many of the native tribes of the country.