The surprises do abound in this peachy, pink tinged double-flowered beauty.
Long a staple in European, particularly German cooking and an excellent saffron substitute, the edible petals of the Pink Surprise Calendula provide color and a peppery flavor to many rice dishes and soups, even teas. While completely edible, the center of this flower has a bitter taste so only the petals are generally eaten, fresh or dried.
Grown for centuries for its medicinal, anti inflammatory properties, Calendula petals are still carefully cultivated today, fresh and dried for many fine homeopathic balms, tinctures and soaps. Monasteries across Europe prized the Calendula for its wound healing properties as well. The petals of Pink Surprise, as with other Calendulas are also fed to chickens to promote a darker colored yolk.
This easily grown, hardy annual shines when grown as a companion plant with other annuals or to complement the perennial garden. At 18 to 24 inches in height and approximately 18 inches of spread Pink Surprise holds its own, adding color to your borders and provides a striking contrast to your purple sage, larkspur and salvia. The lovely 2 to 3 inch blooms and strong stems make it an excellent candidate for both fresh and dried floral arrangements.
Pink Surprise Calendula is extremely tolerant of most soil conditions, disease resistant and a wonderful way to attract bees, butterflies, lady bugs and other beneficial insects to your beautiful garden. A powerhouse of popular, Calendula is also a frequent resident in prized organic gardens. Pink Surprise Calendula thrives in coastal gardens or cottage flower beds and never fails to impress.
Quick Facts
- Type: Flower
- Color: Peachy Orange
- Height: 18" - 24" Tall
- Width: 18" Spread
- Season: Annual
- Zones: 4 to 10
- Environment: Full sun / light shade
- Uses: Flower beds, along walkways, borders or driveways. Great as a cut flower in fresh and dried bouquets.
Sowing The Seed
Calendula seeds can be sown indoors, or directly outdoors as well. If started indoors, sow in peat pots, 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost. Sow 3 to 4 seeds per pot, at a shallow depth of about 1/16" under topsoil. Transplant entire peat pots into the garden, or direct sow when the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed.
Growing Conditions
Calendula plants will thrive in an area of full sunlight to light shade. They prefer temperatures that are around 70F and aren't too picky on soil conditions. Actually, Calendula plants can thrive in even the poorest, sandy soils. Just make sure that the sowing medium is well drained. To increase drainage, we recommend adding a light compost to areas containing hard, compact soil. Water daily with a spray bottle, or mist setting to avoid drowning the seeds.
Germination & Growth
Calendula seeds are known to germinate in roughly 7 to 14 days after sowing. The plants can reach a mature height of roughly 12 to 18 inches tall and can be spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart from one another.Pink Surprise Calendula will produce gorgeous, 2.5 inch, orange-pink colored blooms. The flower heads are edible and go great in salads, to add a bit of extra color.
