Common Marigold
The common marigold (Calendula officinalis), also called the pot marigold, produces brilliant yellow and orange blooms throughout the summer. An annual, the plant only lives through the growing season. When the first hint of a hard frost arrives, the plant dies. Besides producing cheerful blooms for the flower garden, the common marigold has beneficial insect-repelling qualities. The florets have medicinal properties and make welcome additions to various culinary dishes. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The National Garden Bureau declared 2010 the "Year of Marigolds" because of the annual flower's popularity in gardens nationwide. Marigolds grow wild from Argentina north into New Mexico and Arizona. The ancient Aztecs used the rugged flower in magical, religious and healing rites. They called the common marigold cempoalxochitl. The Aztecs cultivated the flower to obtain large blooms. In 1552, the first mention of the marigold was made in recorded history. The De La Crus-Badiano Aztec Herbal of 1552 lists using the marigold for crossing a river safely, hiccups and as an aid if a physical lightning strike occurs. The early Spanish explorers gathered the marigold's seeds in the 1500s. They sailed them back to Spain to grow in monasteries and distribute into Northern Africa and France.
Religious and Medicinal Importance
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The marigold often adorns religious altars across Mexico and Latin America during the celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Visitors will scatter marigold flowers across the graves of beloved family members. Throughout the region, marigolds have established themselves in cemeteries through seed dispersal. Hindus also use the marigold to decorate garlands and in religious ceremonies. In India and Pakistan, the blossoms of the flower have been used to create a yellow cloth dye. Antiseptic creams, lotions and teas help soothe chapped skin, ease toothaches, work as tonics and help repel biting insects.
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Planting Marigolds
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A hardy plant, the common marigold can tolerate a wide range of well-draining soils. It grows best in full sunlight or partial shade. In warm regions, consider planting the marigold in an area that receives afternoon shade to help extend the plant's blooming season. Plant the seeds of the marigold after all danger of frost has passed. Starting the seeds indoors in starter flats will help extend their blooming season in the garden. Planting the common marigold as a companion plant to vegetables can help naturally repel insect pests.
Diseases
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The common marigold can suffer from a disease known as aster yellows. The foliage of the marigold begins to yellow. The entire plant becomes stunted with deformed buds and flowers. The six-spotted leafhopper spreads the disease when it feeds on the marigold. Remove and discard the infected plant. Control six-spotted leafhoppers to help prevent the disease from occurring. The fungus Botrytis cinerea infects marigolds late in the season when the weather becomes cool and moist. The fungus often gains entrance into the plant through a small cultivation wound. The plant will begin to brown at the base of the blooms. If not controlled, the fungus will spread. Promptly remove and discard all infected flower buds to control the spread of the fungus.
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References
- National Garden Bureau: 2010 Year of the Marigold
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln; 2010 -- Year of Marigolds
- Floridata; Calendula Officinalis; Jack Scheper; June 2004
- Mississippi State University; Use Common Marigolds For Uncommon Gardens; Gary R. Bachman; January 2011
- Horticopia: Calendula Officinalis
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
