Calendula 'Pacific Beauty Cream' Seeds

Calendula officinalis 'Pacific Beauty Cream' is a robust Hardy Annual (H3). While standard marigolds are often associated with municipal bedding, the Pacific Beauty series represents a specialized breeding line developed for the professional floral trade. These plants possess a taller, more upright architecture (50-60cm) and longer internodes, specifically designed to provide high-quality stems for the vase.

The "Cooling" Palette: The biological curiosity of this variety is its pigment density. It contains lower concentrations of carotene than traditional varieties, resulting in a soft spectrum of vanilla, primrose, and buttermilk tones. This creates a "cooling effect" in the garden, providing visual relief when planted alongside hot-coloured species or as a luminous backdrop in moon gardens.

Pollinator Bodyguard: Calendula is a cornerstone of organic gardening. It is an RHS Plant for Pollinators, specifically attracting hoverflies. Hoverfly larvae are voracious predators of aphids, meaning that by planting 'Pacific Beauty Cream' in your borders, you are established a natural, chemical-free biological control system with a sophisticated aesthetic.

Calendula seeds are large, curved (resembling tiny seahorses), and exceptionally easy to handle, making them a perfect project for gardeners of all experience levels.

How to Sow:
Direct sow outdoors from March to May for summer blooms, or in September for the earliest flowers the following spring. Scatter the seeds into shallow drills 1cm deep and cover well with soil; Calendula seeds require darkness to trigger germination. Germination is rapid, typically occurring within 7-14 days.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun to reach their peak flowering potential and thrive in almost any well-drained soil. They perform exceptionally well in "poor" soil; excessive nitrogen or heavy manuring will encourage lush green foliage at the expense of the creamy daisy-like blooms. Space plants 30cm apart to allow for their upright habit.

Ongoing Care:
To maintain a non-stop display, you must keep picking. Regular harvesting of stems for the vase—or diligent deadheading—prevents the plant from forming seed heads and signals it to continue producing fresh, buttermilk-hued buds until the first hard frosts of autumn.

The soft creamy-white tones of 'Pacific Beauty Cream' act as a luminous neutral that pairs spectacularly with partners from our available range:

• 💙 Cornflower 'Blue Ball': The Classic Fresh Combo. The pale buttermilk-cream of 'Pacific Beauty Cream' contrasts softly with the intense electric-blue of Cornflowers. This is the quintessential blue-and-white cottage garden pairing—crisp, clean, and professional-looking, both in the border and in the vase.
• 💜 Nigella 'Miss Jekyll Blue': The Romantic Dream. The delicate sky-blue blooms of Nigella nestled in their ruff of feathery foliage provide a stunning textural contrast to the solid daisy blooms of the Calendula. Together, they create a dreamy, vintage display that is magnetic to bees and butterflies.

Direct sow in spring for a summer-long harvest of creamy vanilla blooms, or in autumn for a stronger, earlier display the following spring.