What Is Calendula Herb?

Garden Flowers

• Calendula plants are a low-growing annual and planted as ornamental flowers in flower gardens, particularly as border plants or in container arrangements. The flowers are dried and used in potpourri for their aromatic scent. Fresh flowers produce a bright yellow dye that colors fabric and cotton yarn.

Culinary Herbs

• Fresh or dried flower petals added to rice dishes and salads add flavor and color to the dishes. Culinary uses include baking the petals into breads and biscuits or adding them to flavor soups, cheeses, eggs, butters, cakes and cookies or puddings. The petals also flavor vinegars, wines and liqueurs. Use calendula-infused olive oil for additional flavor when cooking. Once known as the poor man's saffron, use the calendula petals in recipes to replace expensive saffron.

Medicinal Plants

• Calendula is well-known for its medicinal properties. The petals are used to make ointments and infused oils for chapped skin, insect bites, sunburn, chapped skin and irritated skin. Calendula has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. For internal use, the calendula flower petals are infused to make a tea and used to treat indigestion and menstrual pain.

Beauty Agent

• Calendula flowers added to lotions and skin creams treat oily or spotty skin. A tea infusion splashed onto the face reduces large spores and acne. Added to bathwater, calendula softens the skin and hair while reducing oily conditions. Calendula tea is a traditional hair rinse used to bring out natural blond highlights.