Calendula Art Shades Mixed
Calendula Art Shades Mixed
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Calendula 'Art Shades Mixed' Seeds
Forget the jarring bright yellows of municipal flower beds; 'Art Shades' is a curated mix designed for the modern gardener. It produces masses of large, double and semi-double blooms in a warm, romantic spectrum of apricot, creamy-citrus, soft orange, and buff.
Many of the flowers feature contrasting dark centres or petal tips dipped in mahogany, giving them a depth and complexity that standard varieties lack. Standing tall on sturdy stems, this is a workhorse for the cutting patch, providing bucketfuls of "sunset" blooms that mix perfectly with blues and purples in the vase.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Calendula is a Hardy Annual.
It is famously tough, thriving in conditions where fussier plants fail. 'Art Shades' is a tall variety (up to 60cm), bred specifically for longer stems and a more refined colour palette.
The "Cut-and-Come-Again" King: Calendula is one of the most productive flowers you can grow. The more you cut, the more it grows. A single plant can produce dozens of stems over a season.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Calendula seeds are large, curved (like fingernails), and easy to handle.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors where they are to flower. For summer blooms, sow March-May. For early spring blooms next year, sow in Autumn (Sept). Cover seeds with 1cm of soil. Germination is rapid (7-10 days).
Where to Sow:
They love **full sun** but tolerate partial shade. They are not fussy about soil pH or quality. They are drought tolerant once established.
Care While Growing:
Deadhead: This is essential. Snip off the sticky seed heads as soon as the flowers fade. If you do this regularly, the plant will continue blooming well into autumn.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Calendula officinalis |
| Common Name | Pot Marigold 'Art Shades' |
| Hardiness | H5 (Hardy - withstands cold winters) |
| Light Required | Sun or Part Shade ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 45cm - 60cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | ✂️ Cut Flowers 🥗 Edible Petals 🐝 Pollinators 🥕 Vegetable Companion |
| Seed Count | Approx. 100 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The warm apricot tones of 'Art Shades' look incredible with cool blues or dark foliage:
- 🌿 Borage: The Bee Team. The star-shaped blue flowers of Borage are the perfect cool contrast to the warm orange of the Calendula. Both are edible and beloved by bees.
- 💜 Clary Sage 'Oxford Blue': The Long-Lasting Mix. The deep indigo bracts of the Salvia create a stunning, vibrant clash with the soft apricot Calendula. This combination dries beautifully together too.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in spring for summer flowers, or autumn for early spring flowers.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Spring | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Sow Autumn | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Edible Garnish
The petals are 100% edible. They have a mild, peppery flavour. The warm apricot tones of 'Art Shades' look amazing sprinkled over savoury salads or used to decorate a Victoria Sponge cake.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Calendula is a lifeline for nature. It is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, producing high-quality nectar that is easily accessible to bees.
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