Annual Calendulas grow and bloom about a foot high with sun colored flowers in all shades of yellow, gold and orange; modern cultivars include cream, pastel sherbet-orange, reddish-orange and bi-tones. They are among the easiest of flowers to grow from seed and are good choices for children or new gardeners. Flower Seed is usually sold as blends of many colors though some catalogue also offer single tone packs. Calendulas attract butterflies to their broad, flat-topped flowers, they are also attractive as fresh cut flower in bouquets. Calendula prefers full sun and tolerates poor soil. It politely reseeds, modern hybrids may show some variation in flower color and petal count. Increase by seed, many cultivars are available in stores or catalogues.
