Calendula Bronzed Beauty

Calendula with the shouting turned down. 'Bronzed Beauty' flowers in muted bronze, buff and soft apricot, with darker reverses to the petals that show as the flower opens and give it real depth in a vase.

It behaves like any pot marigold, which is to say it asks for almost nothing. Poor ground and full sun suit it best. Feed it well and you will get a great deal of leaf and rather fewer flowers.

The petals are edible and scatter well over a salad or into rice. Keep cutting or deadheading and it will run from June through to the first frost, and a September sowing will give you flowers weeks earlier the following spring.