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Calendula officinalis
CautionRingelblume · (Calendula officinalis)
Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Description
The bright orange flower heads of pot marigold are among the best-known wound-care plants of the European home medicine cabinet. Faradiol esters, flavonoids and polysaccharides from the flowers go into the classic calendula ointment, traditionally used to care for minor skin wounds, abrasions and irritated patches; moist compresses also support healing of sunburn and superficial injuries. An ethanolic tincture serves as a shelf-stable concentrate, while aqueous infusions are used as a mouth rinse and gargle for mild inflammation of the mouth and throat. Per the EMA, calendula preparations are intended solely for external skin use and as a mouth rinse — not for swallowing. Belonging to the daisy family, calendula can cross-react in people allergic to arnica, chamomile or mugwort; tinctures should always be diluted and never applied undiluted to open wounds.
Traditional moist compress to support the treatment of minor skin inflammation (e.g. sunburn) and as an aid in healing minor superficial wounds.
Preparation & dosage
INFUSION for moist compress: Pour 150 ml hot water over 1–2 g dried calendula flowers, cover and steep for about 10 minutes, strain. Soak a clean cotton or linen cloth in the still-warm infusion and place on the affected area (minor wound, mild sunburn) for 30–60 minutes. Refresh 2–4 times a day.
- Dry amount
- 1–2 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 1 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 6 years — Per EMA, use in children under 6 years is not recommended due to insufficient data.
Sources: [1]
Classic calendula ointment for care of minor skin wounds, abrasions and irritated skin patches.
Preparation & dosage
CALENDULA OINTMENT: Use an ointment containing 2–10 % calendula flower (ready-made or home-prepared). Apply a thin layer 2–4 times a day to the affected skin — for minor wounds, abrasions, mild sunburn, or rough, irritated skin.
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 1 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 6 years — Per EMA, not recommended for children under 6 years.
Sources: [1]
Ethanolic tincture as a shelf-stable concentrate — diluted for wound care.
Preparation & dosage
CALENDULA TINCTURE (1:5 in ethanol 70–90 %): For compresses, dilute at least 1:3 with freshly boiled, cooled water. 2–4 times a day. Do not apply undiluted to open wounds.
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 1 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 6 years — Per EMA, not recommended for children under 6 years.
Sources: [1]
Mouth rinse and gargle to support the treatment of minor inflammation in the mouth and throat.
Preparation & dosage
INFUSION for gargle and mouth rinse: Pour 150 ml hot water over 1–2 g dried calendula flowers, steep 10 minutes covered, strain, cool to drinking temperature. Gargle 2–4 times a day, then spit out.
- Dry amount
- 1–2 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 1 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — For mouth/throat use, EMA sets age limit of 12 years.
Sources: [1]
Traditional soothing bath for larger irritated skin areas.
Preparation & dosage
PARTIAL BATH / WASH: Pour 1 litre hot water over 20–50 g dried calendula flowers, steep 15 minutes, strain and add to lukewarm bath water (sitz, hand, or foot bath). Bathe for about 10–15 minutes.
- Dry amount
- 20–50 g
- Doses per day
- 1×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 6 years — For small children only after pediatrician consultation; EMA skin-use age limit is 6 years.
Sources: [1]
Per EMA, calendula preparations are intended exclusively for external use on the skin and as a mouth rinse/gargle — not for swallowing. If signs of skin infection appear, symptoms worsen, or persist longer than 1 week, seek medical advice. Cross-reactions in Asteraceae allergy possible. Do not apply tinctures undiluted to open wounds. ASPCA classification (accessed 2026-08-10): non-toxic to dogs and cats.
⏱ Max continuous use: 1 weeks
Per EMA, there is insufficient safety data during pregnancy — use not recommended.
Insufficient data on use during breastfeeding — not recommended per EMA.
Per EMA: skin use from 6 years, mouth/throat rinses from 12 years.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to calendula or other plants of the Asteraceae family.
- Children under 6 years (skin) or under 12 years (mouth/throat) — not recommended.
Harvested part: flowers
- Time of day:
- On sunny mornings once the dew has dried.
- Drying:
- Pluck the fully opened flower heads. Spread in a single layer in the shade and dry quickly at max 35 °C.
- Storage:
- 12 months — Store fully dried flowers in dark, airtight jars — carotenoids are sensitive to light and air.
- Triterpensaponine (Glykoside der Oleanolsäure)SaponinContent: 2–10 %Flower
Characteristic main active compounds. Contribute to anti-inflammatory and wound-healing action.
- Triterpenalkohole (Faradiol-Ester)OtherContent: ca. 5 %Flower
Lipophilic triterpene diol esters. Considered the most active single anti-inflammatory compounds in calendula flower.
- Flavonoide (Quercetin- und Isorhamnetin-Glykoside)FlavonoidContent: 0,3–0,8 %Flower
Antioxidant properties, complementing the anti-inflammatory action.
- Carotinoide (Carotine, Lutein, Lycopin)OtherContent: bis zu 3 %Flower
Give the flowers their intense orange-yellow colour. Antioxidant, skin-conditioning.
- Ätherisches Öl (Sesquiterpene)Essential oilContent: 0,2–0,3 %Flower
Small amount, contains α-cadinol and other sesquiterpenes.
- PolysaccharidePolysaccharideContent: ca. 15 %Flower
Water-soluble, mucilage-like polysaccharides — soothing on the skin and immunomodulating.
- GerbstoffeTanninContent: ca. 6–10 %Flower
Contribute to mildly astringent, wound-closing action.
- [1]MonographEMA/HMPC/437450/2017 — European Union herbal monograph on Calendula officinalis L., flos (Final, 27 March 2018)(accessed: 2026-05-18)
- [2]MonographASPCA Animal Poison Control — Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis): Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats(accessed: 2026-08-10)
- [3]MonographASPCA Animal Poison Control — Garden Marigold (Calendula officinalis)(accessed: 2026-08-10)
Distribution in Europe
🪴 Grow at home
- ☀ Light
- full sun
- 💧 Water
- every few days
- 🌱 Soil
- Standard potting compost
- 🪴 Pot
- 20 cm
- ⭐ Difficulty
- ★☆☆ beginner
- 🐾 Pets
- non-toxic — verified against the ASPCA list
Tips:
- Self-seeding — collect seeds or let it spread.
- Deadhead regularly for long flowering.
- Flowers edible (salads) or for salve infusion.
Care tips are general indoor-gardening recommendations, not scientific sources.
🤝 Permaculture Partners
In your garden, this plant acts as:
✨ Best symbiotic partners
- 🌿 Garlic Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Borage Calendula and borage — the dual insect magnet.
- 🌿 Capsicum annuum Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Cucumber Calendula deters nematodes and attracts beneficials.
- 🌿 Cucurbita pepo Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Zucchini Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Fragaria vesca Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Matricaria chamomilla Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Ocimum tenuiflorum Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Tomato Calendula attracts beneficials and deters nematodes.
- 🌿 Potato Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Tagetes patula Classic companion-planting partner.
- 🌿 Tropaeolum majus Classic companion-planting partner.
📦 Part of these planting sets:
Source: Helga und Margarete Langerhorst, Mein gesunder Naturgarten (eigene Kuration)