Episode 61: Burning Desire & A Stewed Goose- Calendula
Hello and welcome back to another week of Rooted! This week we are digging into a bloom that’s been popping up everywhere, and one I personally rely on a LOT in my personal apothecary- Calendula!
Calendula is actually a genus of about 15-20 varieties, but today we are specifically talking about Calendula officinalis - sometimes also called pot marigold, as that’s the one most commonly cultivated, and what most folx are referring to when they say calendula.
Calendula is native to the mediterranean, south asia, and much of europe. It prefers fertile, well draining soil, and isnt too picky about full sun or part shade, but it doesn’t LOVE the heat, so if you want to grow in the high desert, I suggest a more heat resistant variety like pacific beauty! That’s the one I tend to have the best luck with growing in usda zone 7b (for my non-american gardeners, 7a means our winter temps get as low as -15 c or 5 f) and they tend to stand up to our harsh new Mexican sun pretty well!
As a garden member, calendula stands out with its sunny yellow/orange blooms that open to bask in the sun, which is why their name is actually derived from the latin word for calendar or clock- since you can ell the time of day based on how open or closed they are. Standing at roughly 8” to 24” tall depending on variety, these bright blooms are a show stopper without taking over! Lots of gardeners (myself included) like to grow them as border plants around their tomatoes, peppers, and other more pest-prone produce due to their ability to repel bugs, just like most other marigolds!
They have thick, simple, alternating leaves that are sometimes toothed, and waxy, smooth stems. They have multiple rows of oblong petals that surround the actual inflorescence, just like sunflowers.
In greek Mythology, there is a story of a girl named caltha, which, as a bit of a spoiler alert, is actually what they called calendula before we all eventually got on the same page.
Anyway. According to the story. Caltha had a MASSIVE crush on a apollo….like a stare so intensely you could swear her eyes could boar a hole in him intense. The kind of crush that took up her every passing thought, and made her feel like he was literally the only thing worth looking at. She would wake each morning before the sun to make sure she didn’t waste a single glimmer of his light in the sky. She would spend her days basking in that light, dreaming of a day where apollo might requite her love for him, feeling his power as it burned almost as brightly as her love for him did.
But alas, that day never came. Instead, our poor girl literally burnt up for him, baby (I am so sorry and also not at all sorry for the jonas brothers reference).
after the singeing sting of unrequited love, the gods felt really bad for caltha, so they let her become a bright, sunny flower we now know as calendula.
In other parts of the world, calendula was’t just tied to the sun, but also to illuminating things we might not be able to see with the naked eye- most notably farires and other fae. According to legend, a potion could be made with the petals of calendula, lavender and rose- which also sounds like it would just be nice as a balm!
Outside of that, it was also used to resolve matters of the heart- specifically An unmarried woman with two suitors would take a blend of powdered Calendula, marjoram, wormwood and thyme simmered in honey and white wine used as an ointment in a ritual to reveal her true match.
Unfortunately for any ladies conflicted in love right now, I couldn’t quite find the ritual, so you’ll have to go with your gut on that one.
In more general magic, Calendula is called upon to sort of act as the sun- banishing darkness, bringing abundance, and helping to promote growth.
In terms of tastiness, Calendula is said to have a kind of savory, slightly bitter/peppery flavor. Some people even call it “Poor man’s saffron” as it can add a depth of flavor kind of similar to saffron, but for a fraction of the cost!
With a reputation like that, it’s kind of no surprise that calendula has long been a favorite to toss in to lots of soups, slops, and what was described as “Stewed poultry”, which I am sure just means like chicken broth etc, but really made me picture a cooked goose, and that could simply NOT go unsaid. I dont make the rules, I just host the show, okay.
Anyway, calendula is more than just tasty- it’s also really good for us- especially our skin and gut lining, which is super convenient then to put in soups- something often administered when we aren’t feeling well…crazy the ways that nature is able to find so many avenues to help love and care for us.
As a medicine, it has long been used to help upset stomachs, skin issues, and skin inflammation, especially in recent times in folx who have undergone radiation therapy for breast cancer. It’s also historically been used to treat the lymphatic system much like pansies were, and was sometimes even applied into the eyes to treat conjunctivitis- more commonly known as pink eye now.
The reason calendula is able to help with all these things is because it contains Triterpenoids that have antibacterial and antiviral properties, as well as photoeffective enzymes that essentially signal the bosy to produce more collagen and some of the other stuff our skin needs to heal wounds, while also helping to downregulate a protein known as TNF alpha (tumor necrosis factor) and other sources of inflammation.
As I touched on earlier, I turn to calendula quite a bit in my own herbalism practice, partially because I think it’s really fun to basically just add a bit of helpful confetti into my blends, and partially because I live in a place that can be particularly tough on skin, which is ultimately our first and often best layer of protection.
But MORE than medicine, Calendula also brings a bit of a party in the form of vibrant yellow/orange dye AND as a stunning addition to cut flower gardens.
With a sunny disposition and a gift of both celebration and healing, it’s easy to see why calendula is such a well known, and well utilized herbal ally. Next time you see some, I hope you’ll take a moment to say hello, offer it a head kiss, and think of all the interesting stories Calendula has for us….and to reflect on stewed poultry and how grateful we all should be to not have to eat like medieval peasants anymore.
I’ll leave you to ruminate on that one for a bit, but I’ll be back next week with some plants to celebrate Pride month! See you then!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10142266/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/calendula-calendula-officinalis/
https://thepracticalherbalist.com/advanced-herbalism/calendula-myth-and-magic/
https://www.ahpa.org/herbs_in_history_calendula
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/calendula#references-16
