Description
The surprises do abound in this peachy, pink tinged double-flowered beauty.
Long a staple in European, particularly German cooking and an excellent saffron substitute, the edible petals of the Pink Surprise Calendula provide color and a peppery flavor to many rice dishes and soups, even teas. While completely edible, the center of this flower has a bitter taste so only the petals are generally eaten, fresh or dried.
Grown for centuries for its medicinal, anti inflammatory properties, Calendula petals are still carefully cultivated today, fresh and dried for many fine homeopathic balms, tinctures and soaps. Monasteries across Europe prized the Calendula for its wound healing properties as well. The petals of Pink Surprise, as with other Calendulas are also fed to chickens to promote a darker colored yolk.
This easily grown, hardy annual shines when grown as a companion plant with other annuals or to complement the perennial garden. At 18 to 24 inches in height and approximately 18 inches of spread Pink Surprise holds its own, adding color to your borders and provides a striking contrast to your purple sage, larkspur and salvia. The lovely 2 to 3 inch blooms and strong stems make it an excellent candidate for both fresh and dried floral arrangements.
Pink Surprise Calendula is extremely tolerant of most soil conditions, disease resistant and a wonderful way to attract bees, butterflies, lady bugs and other beneficial insects to your beautiful garden. A powerhouse of popular, Calendula is also a frequent resident in prized organic gardens. Pink Surprise Calendula thrives in coastal gardens or cottage flower beds and never fails to impress.
