Calendula officinalis 'Orange King'

RHS Plant Profile
marigold 'Orange King'

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An impressive, hardy annual, calendula variety producing enormous, double orange flowers between May and September until the first hard frost. Easy to grow from seed and perfect for cut flowers. The petals are edible and really brighten up a Summer salad or they can be dried and used as a substitute to Saffron for colouring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand, Chalk

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand Chalk
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Calendula can be annuals or woody-based perennials, with simple, aromatic leaves and showy, orange or yellow, daisy-like flower-heads in summer and autumn
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well drained soil in full sun. Sow direct in spring, 0.5cm deep into finely prepared soil, thin to 23cm apart. For a continuous display, sow at two to three weekly intervals. Autumn sowings will flower the following year. Deadhead regularly and pinch out terminal shoots to encourage bushy growth

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in situ in Spring or Autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging

Pruning

Regularly deadhead to extend flowering. Cut back to ground level after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and a virus