Calendula Ball's Orange brings warm orange color and classic calendula character to herb gardens, flower beds, borders, containers, and pollinator plantings. Calendula is valued for its cheerful flowers and its long history as a useful garden herb. The petals can be used as colorful edible garnishes when grown without prohibited pesticides or chemicals. This packet contains 500 non-GMO, heirloom seeds.

Germination Rate: 86%. Test Date: 7/26. AWSC.

Texas minimum germination standard: None.

Culinary Uses

• Edible Petals: Use properly identified, pesticide-free petals as colorful garnishes for salads and other dishes.
• Warm Orange Accent: Add individual petals to finished dishes when you want a bright, garden-grown accent.
• Herb Garden Use: Grow Ball's Orange alongside culinary herbs for an attractive and useful planting.
• Fresh Flavor: Calendula petals can add a mildly bitter, peppery note when used sparingly.

Medicinal Uses

Calendula has a long history of traditional use in herbal practices. This seed listing is for gardening purposes only and does not make medical claims or provide medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes.

Growing Directions

• Choose the Site: Plant in full sun for strong flowering. In hot summer climates, provide light afternoon shade to help plants handle heat.
• Prepare the Soil: Use rich, moderately moist, well-drained soil. Avoid conditions that remain waterlogged.
• Plant the Seeds: Sow according to the packet directions and local planting calendar. Calendula works well in containers, beds, borders, and herb gardens.
• Allow Airflow: Give plants enough room for air to circulate around the foliage, especially during humid weather.
• Water Consistently: Keep soil moderately moist while plants establish, then water when the surface begins to dry.
• Encourage Blooming: Remove spent flowers regularly to help prolong the blooming display.
• Support Pollinators: Include the orange flowers in a pollinator-friendly planting with other flowering herbs and annuals.

Order Calendula Ball's Orange Seeds Today

Grow warm orange calendula for herb gardens, edible petals, containers, borders, and pollinator-friendly plantings.

Important Disclaimer

• Edible Use: Only eat flowers that are correctly identified as edible and grown without prohibited pesticides or chemicals. Wash thoroughly before use and introduce any edible flower cautiously.
• Traditional Herbal Use: Historical or traditional use does not establish medical effectiveness or safety. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before medicinal use.
• Variety Disclaimer: Flower color, plant form, flowering time, fullness, and performance can vary with weather, soil, cultural practices, and local growing conditions.
• Seed Storage: Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark place in a sealed container. Protect them from moisture and temperature swings to help preserve viability.
• Planting Zones: Calendula timing varies by climate. Follow local frost dates and planting calendars for the best results.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something delicious. Grow with David's Garden Seeds®.

Calendula Ball's Orange Lemon Rice

Add a warm orange accent to fluffy lemon rice with a small amount of fresh calendula petals harvested from your garden. This recipe uses petals from mature Calendula officinalis flowers, not the planting seeds in the packet.

Servings: 4 side-dish portions. Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 15–20 minutes, plus 5 minutes resting.

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• Water according to the rice package directions
• 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh Calendula Ball's Orange petals, gently rinsed and patted dry
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Use correctly identified calendula flowers grown for edible use without treatments unsuitable for food crops. Remove the petals from the flower heads, discard the green bases and stems, rinse gently, and pat dry. Roughly chop some petals if desired.
2. Rinse the rice and cook with the water according to the package directions, usually simmering covered for 15–20 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
4. Fold in the butter or olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and most of the calendula petals.
5. Sprinkle with parsley and the remaining petals. Serve warm as a side dish with roasted vegetables, chicken, or fish.

Kitchen Tip: Use petals sparingly for a gentle peppery accent. Calendula is also called pot marigold; do not substitute an unidentified flower simply because it is called a marigold.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers promptly in a shallow covered container within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F. Use within 3–4 days and reheat to 165°F.

Edible Flower Note: Introduce edible flowers cautiously. Avoid calendula if you have a known allergy to it or related plants in the daisy family.