Calendula (marigold or calendula officinalis) is one of the most loved flowers I used and I still use, both in my medical herbalist practice and in the Inlight organic skin care product formulations.

I have always been attracted by its simple shape, its radiant colour and power: a little joyful “sun” hidden in the green of the meadows, spot of light stolen from the sky during the sun set.

You cannot pass by a beautiful orange calendula flower in the wild without taking a double look. It is one of those plants that can’t go by unobserved.

It belongs the Asteraceae (from Latin aster = star) family and is originating from North Africa. Its botanical name “calendula” comes from Latin “calendae” meaning the first day of the month: in fact the marigold can flower nearly every month from spring to autumn. Others think that the name calendula comes the Greek kalàtos meaning basket, because of the shape of its flower head. Continue reading →