Calendula: What It Is and Its Place in Botanical Skincare
Calendula is a flowering plant with a long history of cultivation and use. Recognised botanically as Calendula officinalis, it is commonly known as pot marigold and is part of the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its bright yellow and orange flowers have made it a familiar garden plant as well as an ingredient used in traditional herbal preparations and botanical skincare.
Today, Calendula can be found in a variety of botanical preparations, including infused oils, extracts and dried flower products. It is also one of the botanicals used in selected Eckco products.
This guide looks at Calendula as a plant and botanical ingredient, its history of use, and why it has a place within the Eckco range.
What Is Calendula?
Calendula refers to a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. The species most commonly associated with skincare and herbal preparations is Calendula officinalis L., commonly called pot marigold or common marigold.
Calendula officinalis is an annual or biennial plant with daisy-like flower heads. The flowers are commonly orange or yellow, while the foliage is described as aromatic and slightly hairy.
The plant belongs to the same broad botanical family as familiar plants such as daisies, Sunflowers and asters.
Botanical profile
- Botanical name: Calendula officinalis L.
- Common name: Pot marigold
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Calendula
- Plant type: Annual or biennial
- Flowers: Usually yellow or orange, with daisy-like flower heads
- Native range: Western Mediterranean, according to Kew’s Plants of the World Online
The name Calendula officinalis has been formally recorded since Carl Linnaeus included the species in Species Plantarum in 1753.
Calendula and Marigold: Are They the Same?
The name “marigold” can cause some confusion because it is used for several different plants.
Calendula officinalis is commonly called pot marigold or common marigold. It should not automatically be assumed to be the same plant as every flower sold under the general name “marigold”.
For example, plants in the genus Tagetes are also commonly called marigolds, but they belong to a different genus.
For ingredient identification, the botanical name is therefore more useful than the common name alone.
When an ingredient is identified as Calendula officinalis, it refers specifically to that botanical species.
Where Does Calendula Come From?
Kew’s Plants of the World Online lists the native range of Calendula officinalis as the western Mediterranean. The plant is now widely cultivated and has been introduced to many parts of the world, including Australia and New Zealand.
Calendula is well suited to cultivation and is commonly grown as a garden plant. The Royal Horticultural Society describes Calendula officinalis as a fast-growing annual or biennial with orange, daisy-like flowers.
Its familiar orange and yellow flowers are one reason Calendula has remained a popular cultivated plant.
A History of Calendula
Calendula has a long history as a cultivated and traditionally used plant.
Its history spans gardening, food and herbal preparations. The flowers have also been used by herbalists in preparations for the skin. The Royal Horticultural Society notes that Calendula flowers are edible and that herbalists use the plant in skincare products.
Historical and traditional herbal use should be understood in its proper context. Traditional use describes how a plant or preparation has been used historically; it does not by itself establish that the plant produces a particular result when used in modern skincare.
Calendula flower is also recognised in European herbal medicine documentation. The European Medicines Agency has maintained an herbal monograph for Calendula officinalis flower, reflecting its history as a herbal substance.
This medicinal history is separate from the way Calendula is used as a botanical ingredient in cosmetic products.
Calendula in Traditional Herbal Use
Calendula has been included in traditional herbal preparations in different forms, including flowers, infusions and topical preparations.
Historical records and modern herbal references document a range of traditional uses. These uses belong to the history of herbal medicine rather than being statements about the performance of a cosmetic product. The European Medicines Agency distinguishes traditional herbal use from evidence based on modern clinical trials when assessing herbal medicines.
For this reason, traditional references to Calendula are best understood as part of the plant’s history rather than as product instructions or skincare claims.
Calendula as a Botanical Ingredient
Calendula can be prepared in several different ways depending on the intended application.
Common botanical preparations include:
- Dried Calendula flowers
- Flower extracts
- Oil infusions
- Herbal preparations
- Botanical blends
An oil infusion involves placing plant material in a carrier oil so that oil-soluble components from the plant become part of the resulting infused oil.
The resulting ingredient is different from simply adding dried flowers to a finished product.
This distinction matters when comparing products because “Calendula”, “Calendula extract” and “Calendula-infused oil” can describe different preparations.
Why Is Calendula Used in Botanical Skincare?
Calendula has a long-established place in botanical and herbal traditions, and its flowers are commonly used in botanical preparations.
For Eckco, its inclusion is part of a broader approach to selecting recognisable plant ingredients with a history of use in botanical preparations.
The choice is about the botanical itself and how it fits into the product, rather than making a therapeutic statement about what Calendula does to the skin.
Calendula also fits naturally alongside other botanicals used throughout the Eckco range, including Kawakawa and Mānuka.
Calendula in Eckco Products
Calendula is used in selected Eckco products as part of the botanical ingredient blend.
In the Kawakawa Barrier Balm, Kawakawa and Mānuka are each infused twice before the resulting blend is infused again with Calendula. The finished balm is then combined with its other ingredients and finished with wax.
This process is part of Eckco’s own approach to working with botanical ingredients.
It is important to distinguish this product information from the historical information discussed above. Eckco’s use of Calendula does not rely on claims about treating or preventing a medical condition.
Calendula and the Eckco Botanical Approach
Eckco uses botanical ingredients as part of its ingredient-led approach to skincare.
Calendula is one of several plants selected for particular products, alongside ingredients such as:
Each ingredient has its own botanical identity and history, and the finished product brings those ingredients together in a specific combination.
How Is Calendula Used in an Oil Infusion?
When Calendula is used in an oil infusion, dried plant material is combined with a carrier oil and allowed to infuse.
The process differs from using a water-based extract.
An oil infusion is particularly relevant to waterless skincare because the carrier oil forms part of the finished ingredient rather than introducing water into the product.
The exact preparation method can vary according to the plant material, carrier oil, processing time and intended finished product.
Calendula Flower vs Calendula Oil
These terms can sometimes be used loosely, but they do not necessarily describe the same ingredient.
- Calendula flower refers to the plant material itself.
- Calendula-infused oil refers to a carrier oil that has been infused with Calendula plant material.
- Calendula extract can refer to a preparation made using a particular extraction method and solvent.
For this reason, looking at the complete ingredient list is more informative than relying solely on a product name containing the word “Calendula”.
Why Botanical Names Matter
Common plant names can vary between countries and regions.
“Marigold”, for example, can refer to different plants. Using Calendula officinalis removes much of that ambiguity.
Botanical names are particularly useful when comparing ingredient lists because they provide a more precise way of identifying the plant being discussed.
For Eckco, Calendula officinalis is the botanical identity used when referring to Calendula.
Calendula in Modern Botanical Skincare
Calendula continues to appear in botanical skincare products, herbal preparations and garden cultivation.
The Royal Horticultural Society notes its use by herbalists in skincare products, while botanical databases such as Kew’s Plants of the World Online document the plant’s taxonomy, distribution and cultivation.
Its continued use reflects both its recognisable botanical character and its long history as a cultivated and traditionally used plant.
For modern skincare, however, the presence of Calendula in an ingredient list should simply be understood as information about the botanical ingredients used in that particular product. It does not, on its own, establish a particular effect or outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Calendula?
Calendula is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. Calendula officinalis is commonly known as pot marigold or common marigold.
What is the botanical name for Calendula?
The species most commonly used in botanical skincare is Calendula officinalis L.
Is Calendula the same as marigold?
Calendula officinalis is commonly called pot marigold or common marigold, but “marigold” can also refer to plants from other genera. The botanical name provides a more precise identification.
What part of Calendula is used?
Calendula flowers are commonly used in botanical and herbal preparations. The flowers may be used whole, dried or processed into extracts and infused oils.
How is Calendula used in skincare?
Calendula can be incorporated into skincare as dried botanical material, an extract or an oil infusion. The exact preparation depends on the product.
Why is Calendula used in botanical skincare?
Calendula has a long history as a cultivated and traditionally used botanical, and its flowers are used in botanical skincare and herbal preparations. Eckco includes Calendula in selected products as part of its botanical ingredient approach.
Does Eckco use Calendula in all products?
No. Calendula is used in selected Eckco products. The ingredient list on each individual product page provides the most accurate information about what that product contains.
Is Calendula a New Zealand plant?
No. Calendula officinalis is associated with the western Mediterranean in Kew’s botanical records. It is now cultivated and found in many parts of the world, including New Zealand.
Is Calendula the same as Kawakawa?
No. They are different plants from different botanical families. Calendula is Calendula officinalis in the Asteraceae family, while Kawakawa is a separate New Zealand botanical.
A Botanical Ingredient with a Long History
Calendula occupies an interesting place between gardening, traditional herbal use and modern botanical skincare.
Its bright flowers make it instantly recognisable, while its botanical identity provides a more precise way to understand the ingredient. Calendula officinalis has been cultivated beyond its original Mediterranean range and is now familiar in gardens and botanical products around the world.
For Eckco, Calendula is one part of a wider botanical approach. Its inclusion is based on the plant itself, its place in botanical traditions and how it fits into selected products.
To see exactly where Calendula appears in the Eckco range, refer to the ingredient lists on individual product pages.