Bon Bon Orange

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Asteraceae or Compositae

Order

Asterales

Genus

Marigold

Species

officinalis

Description

An annual or biennial ornamental herbaceous plant with compact growth and a bushy habit. Easy to cultivate, it is appreciated for its excellent scalar flowering, with a profusion of flowers that give warm, brightly coloured accents to terraces or balconies, in pots and planters, but also in flowerbeds and borders where it creates dense coverage; it is also suitable for use in compositions with other ornamentals as well as in intercropping with horticultural species.

Variety description

Very distinctive plant with beautiful bright green foliage. Very striking yellow colour.

Curiosities and special features

The generic epithet, Calendula, derives from 'calendae', i.e. the first day of the month in the Roman calendar in reference to the long flowering period, while the term officinalis refers to the plant's officinal use. Its flowers also have the tendency to open during the day and close at sunset, which is why in antiquity it was called solsequium, i.e. following the sun.

Calendula is also used in addition to shampoo to naturally lighten hair, and a yellow dye used for silk and wool can also be made from the flowers.

Origin and distribution

It derives, like other marigold species, from the C. arvensis species native to the Mediterranean basin and cultivated as far back as the 13th century in the gardens of English aristocrats' houses before spreading throughout Europe, Asia and the American continent both as an ornamental and as a plant for medicinal and officinal use. The wild species grows wild in some hilly areas of Italy up to 600 metres altitude if the exposure is favourable.

Flower size

The flower is average in size compared to other varieties of the same species.

Leaf

The leaf has a lanceolate lamina.

Flowering period

Flowering lasts from late autumn to summer for a duration of 60 to 90 days, an ample time interval that allows us to enjoy its flowers in flower beds and pots for a long time, even combined with other different blooms that can be alternated throughout the year.

Leaf colour

Solid colours.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.2 to 0.3 m, making it ideal for creating compositions with other ornamental plants of different development, creating perspective views.

Lifespan

Biennial plant.

Where to plant

The persistence and continuity in flowering make it ideal for decorating, even in situations of full sun exposure, outdoor spaces such as flower beds, balconies, borders, planters, outdoor tubs

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is pom-pom-shaped, medium-sized, with a rounded corolla and plain petals. It flowers from late autumn to summer, with a flowering period of 60 to 90 days. It has sweet notes and is lightly scented, with a delicate aroma. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

It shows compact growth, ideal for dense, colourful compositions.

Plant habit

A characteristic bushy habit that gives a pleasant decorative appearance, with the presence of colourful patches of flowers within a dense, rich vegetation.

Branching

It develops medium branching with a high density of flowers.

PH

The optimal pH of the soil or substrate is sub-acidic, with values between 5.5 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

For transplanting into beds, carry out light digging by removing any weeds and bulky stones, then break up the coarser clods with the help of a hoe to achieve greater softness. Finally, add professional-quality substrate to the surface to an average height of 5/10 cm and carefully level out.

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Sun exposure

Exposure to full sun will result in a lush, brightly coloured flowering.

Ideal climate and temperature

The biological temperature is between 5 and 30 °C. The ideal temperature is between 8 and 20 °C; it is therefore suitable for temperate climates.

Use

For its vibrant flowers, borne over a long period of the year, it is widely used as a plant in
Outdoor ornamental

Hardiness

Medium hardiness, adapts to soil and climatic conditions that are not always optimal for other ornamentals.

Soil

The ideal soil for proper marigold development is peaty, loamy and well-draining; for use in pots and planters, a substrate for spring plants made of fibrous peat and perlite is recommended.

Difficulty

Easy to grow and maintain, the level of management effort is low, a feature that adds value to the plant.

Growing tips

For best results in terms of growth vigour and flowering in a flowerbed or pot, the following cultivation tips are given:
Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering

Intercropping/combination

With its bright flowers and beneficial properties, marigold is often used with optimal results in intercropping with horticultural species. Plant intercropping is a method of maintaining a natural balance within our green spaces by cultivating mutually beneficial plants together, as certain combinations can promote pollination by attracting insects such as bees and butterflies, prevent fungal or bacterial diseases, keep pest levels low, and attract beneficial insects such as ladybirds, which are excellent predators of aphids, thus creating a more resilient ecosystem. In detail, we recommend the use of marigold in association with carrot, cucumber, maize, potato, pepper, tomato, pumpkin, courgette.

Combinations with other plants

Suitable for creating compositions with elegant and lively colour tones with other ornamental species with different flower heights and colour shades such as Antirrhinum majus, Lavandula officinalis, Lavandula stoechas.

Planting

In flowerbeds, an average planting density of 10 plants per square metre is recommended in order to allow each individual specimen to express its growth vigour to the full, thus achieving homogeneous and proportionate compositions.

Propagation

Medium sowing.

Watering

Use rainwater, or alternatively aqueduct water with a sub-acidic pH optimum, either manually or by irrigation. When transplanting, assist the seedling to its new site by first watering abundantly followed by regular watering to prevent dryness; then take care to keep the soil or substrate moist but avoid water stagnation, which can cause root rot. It is suggested not to water the plant with open flowers from above during the late afternoon or evening to prevent the development of mould or rot.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilising

After a proper settling in the new planting site, add a specific balanced fertiliser for flowering plants to the soil or substrate, containing the macro- and microelements necessary for the correct development of the plant both in the bed and in the pot; intervene with regular contributions but without exceeding the quantities.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet safety

Ingestion toxicity to pets not known; consider case-specific.

Edibility for humans

The flowers of some varieties are edible, with a slightly peppery flavour they add colour to salads and other dishes; the dried petals can be used as a condiment, saffron substitute and to prepare tea. Not all varieties are edible.

Toxicity for humans

Toxicity not known. Consider variety before possible ingestion.

Tip

Remove wilted flowers to prevent them from rotting the plant. It is an ideal plant for combining with horticultural plants.