Calendula Officinalis Flower

Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) is an ornamental and hardy plant, native to Central Europe and to the Mediterranean. It is cultivated across the globe due to its beautiful, orange, daisy-like flowers, which have been used in beverages, medicine, cosmetics, fabric colorants and foods. The name marigold is used for other plant species, too, such as tagetes, but these are no relation. Calendula was considered to possess magical properties. Ancient herbalists and pagans believed that it protected from evil.