The Pharmacist’s Garden:
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
The sunshine flower of the garden
From my garden
Calendula is one of the first flowers I notice each spring. It has cheerful, bright yellow to orange petals and it flowers generously for months. The more I pick, the more it blooms. Calendula has a strong affinity for the sun, so whenever the sun is out, the flowers are out in full bloom. It self-seeds and seems to grow everywhere in the Wild Māra garden. I harvest the flowers by hand and dry them before they go into my oil infusions.
Why I grow it
Calendula has a long history in traditional skin care, and as a pharmacist I understand why. The petals are rich in natural plant compounds, including the carotenoids that give them their colour. Many of these are oil-soluble, so they infuse beautifully into plant oils. That's why I steep my calendula in oil for three to six months before it ever reaches a bar of soap or a balm. It's slow, but it's how I get the most from the plant.
Calendula is also known for being gentle and soothing, which makes it a natural fit for skin that needs a little extra kindness.
Where you’ll find it:
Calendula & Shea Soap: our richest bar, with the highest shea butter content in the range
Calendula & Oats Botanical Bath Salts: a soft, soothing soak
Calendula & Citrus Sugar Scrub: gentle polishing with a fresh, bright finish
Coffee Chai Sugar Scrub: with added coffee grounds for a more exfoliating experience
Skin Calm Balm: gentle, soothing balm
Mandarin & Grapefruit Lip Balm: soothing and moisturising
Dirty Dog Soap: soothing for your pup’s skin
Next in The Pharmacist’s Garden: Lemon Balm