Marigold

Scientific Name: Calendula officinalis

Birth Month: October

Early Christians called calendula “Mary’s Gold”, and placed it by the statues of the Virgin Mary. The most sacred flower of ancient India, Marigold stems and flower heads were strung into garlands and placed around the necks of holy statues.

Since the Marigold’s flower head follows the sun, it is sometimes called “summer’s bride” or “husbandman’s dial”. The Marigold flower means “winning grace” in the language of flowers.

The Marigold is an annual flower that blooms well even over a long season. Marigolds are good cleansers and can be remedies for the sting of bees. Marigolds are also known as calendula, garden Marigold, holli gold, gold bloom, golds, ruddes, Mary bud, bull’s eyes and pot Marigold.

Marigold leaves are green rosettes that sport multiple stems of single or double daisy-like flowers, which are sometimes crested in form. Height can be anywhere from 30 to 60 cm, and flowers may be 5 to 10 cm wide. Plants bloom and grow best during cool weather, but flowers close on cloudy days.