Calendula officinalis ‘Erfurter Orangefarbige’ Seeds | Erfurter Orange
LATIN NAME: Calendula officinalis ‘Erfurter orangefarbige’
COMMON NAME: Erfurter Orange Calendula
Plant Profile
Calendula officinalis ‘Erfurter orangefarbige’, commonly known as Erfurter Orange Calendula, is a species with a long record in gardens. The ratio of effort to reward here is about as good as gardening gets.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Calendula officinalis ‘Erfurter orangefarbige’, a representative of the Calendula group with clear practical value. Its consistently double flower form and rich colour intensity have also made it a useful reference cultivar in calendula breeding research examining flower doubling genetics. From a research perspective, species of this kind are valuable material for work on propagation and on the selection of uniform lines.
Uses & Benefits
Beyond its ornamental appeal, Erfurter Orange Calendula has the practical versatility that makes a plant worth growing from seed year after year. Erfurter Orangefarbige’s fully double, richly coloured flowers offer a showier, more ornamentally impressive display than standard single-flowered calendula while retaining the same edible petals and traditional skin-soothing uses of the wider species. Its historic German heirloom status also makes it a worthwhile choice for gardeners specifically interested in preserving traditional European flower varieties. After the first season it asks for very little beyond a place that suits it.
Calendula flower is one of the great skin herbs: petal preparations have clinical and regulatory support in Europe for wound healing, minor burns and skin inflammation, thanks to their flavonoids, carotenoids and triterpenes. The petals also brighten soups, rice and salads.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Erfurter Orange Calendula under ordinary good conditions. Sow seed directly into a loose, well-drained mix at a shallow depth, keeping it lightly moist until germination. Full sun to light shade suits this adaptable annual well, and it typically flowers reliably from a spring sowing right through to autumn frost. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in full sun with steady moisture. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Its role in herbal practice, noted above, adds depth to an already garden-worthy plant. Once established, Erfurter Orange Calendula largely looks after itself. Attention to moisture in the first weeks pays off; later, the plant is forgiving.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Erfurter Orange Calendula often pair it with these related subjects: