Mundane & Magickal Properties of Calendula
Rebecca HaynesCalendula (Calendula officinalis)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an herb, sometimes referred to as common marigold or pot marigold, belonging to the asteraceae family (aster family) and growing to a height of approx 30cm-90cm (1 to 3 feet). It's flowers range from yellow- deep orange. Calendula officinalis tolerates most soil types and is considered an easy plant to grow- and I can attest to this as even I can grow them :) (and my philosophy
with plants is treat them mean and keep them keen ;), otherwise known as NOT being a green thumb )
Depending on the climate in which it is grown, Calendula can either be an annual (in climates with extreme cold or heat) or a short-lived perennial (in mild climates). Calendula readily self seeds, so if you are wanting to control where it grows, you are best to plant it in a pot.
Harvesting Calendula
Calendula flowers open in the morning and follow the sun, closing in the late afternoon. For this reason, flowers should be picked when the sun is at its strongest, at noon. Removing dead heads will encourage growth of new flowers throughout its growing season.
Calendula flowers should be dried in a cool, dark place away from moisture.
Mundane Properties of Calendula
Calendula is a popular herb for both mundane and magickal purposes. It has long been employed in both medicine & culinary uses. Calendula officinalis leaves and flowers are edible, and can be added to salads. The flowers have also been added to broths to strengthen the flavour. Calendula can be infused and used to make vinegars, honeys and teas. It has also been used to dye cheese and fabric. Please note- if you are intending to consume calendula, make sure it is the calendula officinalis- not any of the other plants called marigold as some of them are not edible (if in doubt, do not consume!)
Medicinally, Calendula has a long history of use in Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese and traditional western herbal medicine. It is well known for its soothing properties. It is also particularly good when applied to the skin. It is a wound healer, and can be used
as a salve, oil, tea, or wash. Internally, Calendula is soothing, anti inflammatory and healing. It can be taken as a tea, tincture, or added to food.
Calendula is also often employed in gardening to attract pollinators such as bees to the garden and to act as a natural insect repellent. It attracts the beneficial insects such as ladybugs that eat the harmful ones such as aphids.
Magickal Properties Of Calendula
It has been reported in some books and also articles online that Calendula garlands have been used to adorn Hindu deity statues and are also used as offerings in the Central American Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. In my personal research (limited as it may be) I have come to the conclusion that the flower that they are referring to in these cases may not actually be Calendula (and I would really appreciate if someone knowledgeable on these particular faiths would let me know in the comments section) . In the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, I believe they are referring to the Mexican marigold (from the tagetes genus), not Calendula officinalis (from the calendula genus)) however it has been suggested that Calendula is
sometimes used as a replacement when the Mexican marigold is not available (please let me know in the comments if this is correct, or incorrect. I am not familiar with Mexico or the cultural practices, and am only reporting on information that I have read).
As for the Hindu celebrations, again I am no expert- I am only reporting information that I have researched, and I believe the authors of the articles/ books I have read could actually be referring to the actual Marigold flower (from the Tagetes family) which is linked to Surya Dev or the ‘Sun god’ in Hinduism, which is not actually the same as Calendula officinalis- which is from the Calendula genus. I have tried to find information on the actual flower, however as Calendula is known as Marigold, the issue seems quite confused. I am not sure whether they are substituted and either is fine (as the colours and sometimes flowers are very similar), however I do know that the actual Marigold flower is a traditional flower crop that is produced in large quantities in India (according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, actual Marigold- including African and French Marigold are produced in quite substantial quantities). This information has led me to believe that these may be the flowers spoken about when referring to Marigold- not actually Calendula? Again, I am calling on people more knowledgeable than myself to correct me if I have spoken out of ignorance. Please let me know in the comments section if you have any info you would like to add!
Aside from religion, it is said that gazing upon the bright and cheery flowers of Calendula will help to strengthen the heart, lifting depression and will also strengthen the eyesight.
Wearing Calendula is said to bring you admiration and respect of those you meet.
When it comes to more intense matters, Calendula is said to be able to point out a thief who has stolen from you, or help you find the location of your lost object/s. It is also said to help in favourably resolving legal matters. I have personally never used it this way, however if in a pinch, it cannot hurt!
Common Names: Bride of the Sun; Calendula; Drunkard; Goldes Holigolde; Husbandman's Dial; Marybud; Marygold; Mary Gowles; Pot Marigold; Ruddes; Ruddles; Spousa Solis; Summer's Bride
Parts Used: Flowers & Leaves
Gender: Masculine
Powers: Divination, dreams, healing, happiness, harmony, legal matters, love, prophetic dreams, prosperity, protection, psychic powers
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Day: Sunday
Zodiac Signs: Leo, Sagittarius
How To Use Calendula For Magick
- Hang Calendula garlands above your door to protect your home from evil / negativity.
- Add a pot plant of Calendula at your front door to ward off evil.
- Add Calendula flowers to your ancestor altar
- Place Calendula flowers underneath your bed or in a dream pillow to ward off nightmares and to induce prophetic dreams.
- Add calendula petals or tea to your bath to promote health and vitality.
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Add dried Calendula to loose incense for use prior to doing divination work. This
incense can also be used to consecrate tools or a space prior to doing divination work.
- Carry a bag containing Calendula with you if going to court, to aid in receiving favourable justice.
- Bathe in a bath of Calendula tea to gain the admiration from those around you.
- Place Calendula plants outside your office where you can look upon them periodically while working to ease your eyes (this is just generally a good thing to do. If you do a lot of computer work, make sure you take breaks and look at nature to help your eyes focus on things other than computer screens)
An all round beneficial plant, sunny Calendula is a useful plant to grow in your magickal herb garden!
As always, please note that the Magickal benefits of this herb/plant are not set in stone.
Do your own research before working with each ingredient always and consult your own sources. What is right for me in my situation, may be completely wrong for you.
Let us know what you think about this fantastic plant. Do you grow it? If so, what has been your experience with it? Do you use it for mundane purposes, magickal purposes, or both? We'd love to hear your experiences.
Please note: The author of this blog is not a medical professional & the information presented in this blog is solely for entertainment and informational purposes. No information contained within this bog is intended to serve as professional advice of any description. Please consult a healthcare professional if you are seeking treatment for any medical condition. If you choose to perform any type of self-treatment or follow advice off the internet you do so at your own risk.
References:
Miernowska, M. (2020). The Witch's Herbal Apothecary (p. 139). Fair Winds Press.
Nock, J.A. (2019). The Modern Witchcraft Guide To Magickal Herbs (p.91). Adams House.
Kane, A. (2021). Herbal Magic (p. 126). Quarto US.
Margaret, A. (2024). Green Witch's Guide To Herbal Magick (pp. 68-69). Page Street Publishing Co.
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, October 28). Calendula. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:10, November 6, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calendula&oldid=1319229356
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, October 28). Calendula. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:10, November 6, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calendula&oldid=1319229356
Dadlani, N. K. (n.d.). CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION IN INDIA. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved December 4, 2025, from https://www.fao.org/4/ac452e/ac452e04.htm