If you haven’t noticed by now, we're a little obsessed with Calendula.
With its cheerful golden petals and long flowering season, it’s the kind of flower that feels perfectly at home in a cottage garden. But calendula is more than a pretty bloom.
For generations, its flowers have been valued in traditional herbal preparations, particularly those made for the skin. Today, calendula remains a much-loved botanical ingredient in balms, creams, oils and other skincare products.
And while traditional use is part of its story, modern research has also given us some fascinating clues about what makes this little flower so interesting.
So, what exactly is calendula? Why is it so popular in skincare? Can you grow your own? And what does the science actually tell us?
Meet Calendula
Calendula officinalis, commonly known as pot marigold, is a flowering plant belonging to the daisy family, Asteraceae.
Despite its common name, it isn't the same plant as the marigolds you might know from the garden. Those familiar orange and yellow marigolds generally belong to the Tagetes genus, while the calendula used in traditional herbal preparations and botanical skincare is Calendula officinalis.
Originally associated with southern Europe and the Mediterranean, calendula is now grown in gardens all around the world.
It's also wonderfully easy-going, which is one of the reasons it's such a lovely plant for the home garden. Give it sunshine, reasonably well-drained soil and regular water while it establishes, and it can reward you with an abundance of golden and orange flowers.
Why Is Calendula So Interesting for Skin?
Calendula flowers naturally contain a variety of plant compounds, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, carotenoids and other naturally occurring substances.
You don't need to remember the names, but they help explain why researchers have taken such an interest in calendula.
Some of these compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory research. In particular, certain triterpenoids found in calendula flowers have been studied for their potential role in the plant's topical anti-inflammatory effects.
In simple terms, calendula contains naturally occurring compounds that may help explain its long-standing reputation as a soothing botanical for the skin.
And this is one of the things we love about botanical skincare.
A plant doesn't need to be marketed as a miracle to be fascinating.
Sometimes, the more we learn about what is naturally occurring inside a flower, the more interesting it becomes.
So, What Can Calendula Actually Do for Your Skin?
This is where it's important to separate traditional use, promising research and proven medical treatment.
Calendula has a long history of being used topically in preparations intended to soothe and support the skin. Laboratory research supports the idea that certain compounds in calendula have anti-inflammatory activity, and researchers have also investigated calendula preparations for their potential role in wound healing and other skin-related applications.
But that doesn't mean calendula is a cure-all.
Clinical research is still relatively limited, and results haven't always been consistent. Some studies have produced encouraging findings, while others haven't found a significant benefit.
So rather than saying that calendula "heals skin" or "treats inflammation", it's more accurate to say that calendula is a promising botanical ingredient with properties that may help soothe and support the skin.
And honestly, we think that's more interesting anyway.
There's something refreshing about being able to appreciate what a plant can offer without needing to turn it into a miracle ingredient.
Not All Calendula Ingredients Are the Same
There's another part of botanical skincare that often gets overlooked.
When you see "calendula" listed on a product, that doesn't necessarily mean every calendula ingredient is identical.
The flowers can be prepared in a number of different ways, and the way a plant is extracted can influence which of its naturally occurring compounds are present in the finished ingredient.
One traditional approach is to infuse dried calendula flowers into a carrier oil. This creates an oil-based botanical ingredient that works beautifully in products such as balms, salves and body oils.
Other calendula preparations can use water, glycerine, alcohol or other extraction methods.
Why does this matter?
Because the extraction method can influence what is pulled from the plant.
So when researchers study a particular calendula extract, we can't automatically assume that their results apply in exactly the same way to every calendula-containing product.
It's a small detail, but an important one.
"Contains calendula" tells you where an ingredient came from. It doesn't tell you the whole story.
The plant material, extraction method, concentration and finished formulation all matter.
Growing Calendula in Australia
One of the things we love most about calendula is that you don't need to be an expert gardener to grow it.
It's an easy and rewarding flower for the home garden, and because it can be grown in pots, you don't even need a large garden to give it a try.
Calendula generally prefers the cooler months in much of Australia. In warmer parts of Queensland, the heat and humidity of summer can be challenging, making autumn and winter a more comfortable growing period. In cooler parts of the country, you may have a longer growing window.
Here on the Southern Downs, our cooler climate gives us a little more flexibility than some of the warmer parts of Queensland.
Find a sunny spot
Calendula grows well in plenty of sunshine, although some afternoon shade can be helpful in hotter climates.
Choose a position that gets good light and has reasonable air circulation.
Give it well-drained soil
Calendula isn't particularly fussy about soil, but it doesn't enjoy sitting in constantly wet conditions.
If your garden soil is heavy or drains poorly, consider growing it in a raised bed or container instead.
Start from seed
Calendula is so easy to grow from seed.
You can sow directly into the garden or start seeds in pots and transplant them once they're established.
Keep the soil lightly moist while your seedlings are getting started, but avoid keeping it waterlogged.
Don't overwater
Young plants need consistent moisture while their roots develop. Once they're established, allow the soil to dry slightly between watering rather than keeping it constantly soggy.
Pick the flowers
This is one of the best parts.
Regularly harvesting mature flowers encourages the plant to continue producing more blooms. Pick healthy, fully opened flowers on a dry day, particularly if you plan to dry them for later use.
No garden? No problem.
Calendula grows happily in containers, too.
A sunny balcony, courtyard or patio can be enough to grow your own little patch of golden flowers.
And there's something rather satisfying about stepping outside, picking a handful of flowers and knowing exactly where they've come from.
Harvesting Calendula for Skincare
If you're growing calendula specifically because you'd like to use it in skincare preparations, there are a few extra things worth considering.
First, grow your plants without pesticides or chemicals that aren't appropriate for use on skin or around food.
Choose healthy, fully opened flowers and harvest them on a dry day. Avoid flowers that are damaged, diseased or showing signs of mould.
If you're planning to make an oil infusion, thoroughly dried flowers are preferable to fresh flowers. The reason is simple: water and oil don't mix.
Introducing moisture into an oil-based preparation can create stability and preservation challenges, which is why careful drying is important when making an infused oil.
Once dried, calendula flowers should be stored somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight until you're ready to use them.
Ways to Enjoy Calendula
Calendula isn't only interesting for skincare.
In the garden
Those bright flowers bring plenty of colour to the garden and can provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.
They're also lovely as cut flowers, so you can enjoy them indoors as well as outside.
In your self-care ritual
Dried calendula flowers can be incorporated into traditional botanical preparations such as infused oils and bath blends.
You'll also find calendula used in finished products such as our Calendula Soothing Skin Balm, creams, Marigold Botanical Cleansing Bar, Herbal Lip Butter, and body oils.
In the kitchen
Calendula petals are edible and can be used to add colour to salads and other dishes or in herbal teas for an antioxidant boost.
If you want to use calendula this way, make sure the flowers have been grown specifically for culinary use and haven't been treated with pesticides or other products unsuitable for consumption.
And remember: not every marigold-looking flower is calendula. Always correctly identify a plant before consuming it.
A Little Botanical Reality Check
There's a temptation with natural skincare to think that if something comes from a plant, it must automatically be gentle, safe and effective.
But nature is much more interesting, and complicated, than that.
Botanical ingredients can be incredibly useful, but they're not automatically suitable for everyone.
Calendula belongs to the Asteraceae family, which also includes plants such as chamomile and arnica. People who are sensitive or allergic to members of this plant family may need to exercise caution when using calendula preparations.
And, as we've seen, the research surrounding calendula is promising in some areas but still developing.
That's why, even though we have customers who swear by the magic of calendula, we prefer to talk about it as a botanical ingredient that may help soothe and support the skin, rather than making sweeping claims that it can cure or treat skin conditions.
Good skincare doesn't need exaggerated promises. Understanding what an ingredient can realistically offer makes our approach to formulation more intentional and balanced.
Why We Love Calendula at The Wilde Magnolia
Calendula has everything we love about botanical skincare.
It's beautiful.
It's accessible.
It has a fascinating history of traditional use.
And there's enough modern research behind it to make us curious about what this little flower can contribute to a formulation.
There's something grounding about knowing that an ingredient in your skincare has its origins in a plant that could just as easily be growing in your own garden.
That's part of what botanical skincare means to us at The Wilde Magnolia, not simply using plants because they're natural, but taking the time to understand them.
To learn what they contain.
To respect what the research tells us.
And to formulate thoughtfully with them.
Our Calendula Soothing Skin Balm is one expression of that philosophy: a nourishing botanical balm centered around calendula and thoughtfully selected plant oils and butters.
We believe understanding what we put on our skin matters. The information in this Ingredient Spotlight is informed by peer-reviewed research and reputable botanical and horticultural sources. We've kept the science easy to understand, while staying mindful of what the research can, and can't, tell us. If you'd like to explore calendula further, you'll find our sources below.
References & Further Reading
1. Arora, D., Rani, A., & Sharma, A. (2013). A review on phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological aspects of genus Calendula. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 1(6), 18–27.
A broad review covering calendula's traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological research.
2. Della Loggia, R., Tubaro, A., Sosa, S., Becker, H., Saar, S., & Isaac, O. (1994). The role of triterpenoids in the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Calendula officinalis flowers. Planta Medica, 60(6), 516–520.
Research investigating the role of naturally occurring triterpenoids in calendula's topical anti-inflammatory activity.
3. Givol, N., Kornhaber, R., Visentin, D., Cleary, M., Haik, J., & Harats, M. (2019). A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 27(5), 548–561.
A systematic review examining the available evidence surrounding calendula and wound healing.
4. Pommier, P., Gomez, F., Sunyach, M. P., et al. (2004). Phase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22(8), 1447–1453.
A human clinical trial investigating the use of calendula cream for radiation-induced skin reactions.
5. Sharp, L., Finnilä, K., Johansson, H., et al. (2013). No differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions — results from a randomised blinded trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17(4), 429–435.
A randomised clinical trial providing an important counterpoint to earlier positive findings.
6. Royal Horticultural Society. Calendula officinalis — Growing Information, Plant Characteristics and Wildlife Value.
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