209 · Calendula Yellow Porcupine

About this plant

A calendula that does not look like a calendula — bright yellow blooms made of spiky quilled petals, like little suns or sea urchins. Baker Creek singles it out for drying, pressing and brewing into a fragrant tea, and the quilled petals hold their form far better than flat ones. Edible, frost hardy, and in flower here from midwinter through spring. Note: Cool season — plant now, expect it to finish in June heat. Frost hardy to ~25F. Keep it watered.

Planting it at home

When to plant out

Right away. Our low-desert planting window for cool-season plants ends about mid-February.

Where

Full-sun winter bed, herb garden, or container; a good children's/novelty plant for its spiky flowers

Spacing

10 in (Baker Creek); 12 in (Gardenia)

Size

18–24 in tall x 12 in wide (Gardenia)

Support

Bush / compact — little or no support

Care

Sun

8–12 hours full sun; some afternoon shade tolerated in hot regions

Water

Consistent moisture; do not let it dry out

Feed

A light flower fertilizer every 3–4 weeks while blooming (general guide).

Pick / harvest

Cut when half open or just opened that day, in the morning. For drying and tea, pick as blooms begin to open and strip the petals.

Deadhead

Cut off spent flowers to keep new blooms coming.

Good to know

Caution

Petals only are edible. Do not eat leaves or stems.

Grown from

Seed — sown by FHCG volunteers

Uses

Cut flower / dried & pressed flower / herbal tea / bedding / container / pollinator border

Life cycle

Annual (hardy, self-seeding)

Heirloom or hybrid

Heirloom — saved seeds grow true

Pollinators

Honeybees, native bees and hoverflies (syrphids), whose larvae prey on aphids

Days to bloom

45–65 days to flower (Baker Creek)

Heat (our summer)

Prefers below 85F; blooming stops in extreme heat. Some afternoon shade helps in hot regions

Cold

Yes — hardy, frost tolerant to ~25F

Color

Bright clear yellow, spiky quilled/tubular petals radiating like a sunburst — the 'porcupine' form

Edible

Petals only (slightly bitter, saffron-like). Strip from the bitter center (UA and UMN Extension).