Calendula officinalis is a fast-growing, hardy annual herb with edible, bright yellow-orange flowers. It thrives in full sun, grows 30-60 cm tall, and is widely used for culinary, medicinal, and companion planting purposes. It is excellent for attracting beneficial insects, treating skin inflammations, and adding color to gardens

Dye colour: Yellow, Khaki Green

Dye source: Flowers

Flowering: June - October

Other common names: Pot Marigold, goldins, Jack-on-horseback

How to extract the dyes: 

• Soak the dried flower heads in a pot filled with 4 litres of warm water for 30 minutes. 

• Heat the dye bath to +70 °C, well below the boiling point.  

• Adding one tablespoon of washing soda or 0.5-1 dl of wood ash lye can improve the colour extraction and modify the colour from brown to orange. 

• Steep the flowers for 30 minutes to extract dye.  

For more information about the dyeing process:

Natural dyes for education and colour experimentation