Calendula 'Sherbet Fizz' Seeds

Calendula officinalis 'Sherbet Fizz' is a unique, designer variety that looks good enough to eat. Unlike standard flat-orange marigolds, this variety produces tightly packed, ruffled blooms in soft shades of buff, cream, and pale yellow.

But the real magic happens when you look closely: the underside of each petal is tipped with deep red-maroon. This creates a stunning two-tone effect, shimmering between pale cream and dark red as the flower heads move in the breeze.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Sherbet Fizz'

This is a sophisticated choice for gardeners who want the easy-going nature of a marigold but with a colour palette that fits into a high-end border design. It doesn't shout; it glows.

It is also one of the very best edible flowers. The petals can be pulled off and sprinkled over salads, desserts, or frozen into ice cubes. The "sherbet" colours look spectacular on top of a summer cake. Plus, it is a magnet for hoverflies, helping to keep your garden pest-free naturally.

Understanding the Plant: What is a Hardy Annual?

Calendula is a Hardy Annual.

This means it completes its life cycle in one year. Because it is "Hardy," it is tough enough to withstand cold weather. You can sow it in spring for summer flowers, or—for the earliest, strongest blooms—sow it in autumn to overwinter. It is also a famous "self-seeder," often dropping seeds that will pop up as free plants the following year.

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Calendula seeds are famously easy to handle—they look like large, curled crescents.

🌱 Germination:
You can start them indoors, but 'Sherbet Fizz' actually prefers to be sown directly into the soil where it is to flower. Sow the seeds about 1cm deep (they like to be well-covered with soil as darkness aids germination). Keep the soil moist, and they will germinate quickly, usually within 7-14 days.

Where to Sow:
They love full sun. They aren't fussy about soil types and will happily grow in poor, free-draining soil. If you grow them in very rich soil, you might get lots of leaves but slightly fewer flowers, so don't overfeed them.

Care While Growing:
Keep Picking! This is the secret to Calendula. If you let the seed heads form, the plant thinks its job is done and will stop flowering. Keep snipping off the old heads (or picking fresh flowers for the vase), and it will keep producing buds right through to the first frosts.

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features, helping you decide if these two-tone blooms are the right fit for your garden.

My Recommended Garden Companions

The reddish undersides of 'Sherbet Fizz' allow for some clever colour combinations. Here are my top pairings from the shop:

• 🥉 Bronze Fennel: The dark, copper-bronze foliage of the fennel picks up the red-maroon tips of the Calendula beautifully, creating a moody, sophisticated look.
• 💙 Cornflowers (Blue): The buff-yellow of the Calendula against the electric blue of Cornflowers is a match made in heaven. It’s a cheerful, cottage-style combination that pollinators adore.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow direct outdoors in spring or autumn. Successional sowing extends the harvest.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)