Calendula 'Touch of Red' Seeds

Calendula officinalis 'Touch of Red' is a sophisticated twist on a cottage garden classic. From a distance, these flowers glow with a warm, burnished orange, but up close, they reveal their secret: the underside of each petal is brushed with deep mahogany-red.

As the buds open and the flowers close in the evening, this flash of dark red creates a stunning "two-tone" effect. It gives the plant a vintage, antique feel that fits beautifully into both traditional vegetable patches and modern cut flower borders.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Touch of Red'

If standard bright orange marigolds feel a bit too "loud" for your taste, this is the variety for you. The red reverse creates a moodier, richer colour palette that looks incredible in a vase.

It is also a medicinal powerhouse. Historically used in healing balms, the petals are fully edible and look spectacular sprinkled over salads. Like all Calendulas, it attracts beneficial insects (like hoverflies) in droves, acting as a natural bodyguard for your beans and tomatoes.

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 thrives in our cool climate. 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 generous 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 distinctive—they are large, curved, and look a bit like little dried worms! This makes them very easy to handle.

🌱 Germination:
You can start them indoors, but 'Touch of Red' 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 but will tolerate partial shade. They are not fussy about soil types and will happily grow in poor, free-draining soil. In fact, soil that is too rich often results in lots of leaves but slightly fewer flowers.

Care While Growing:
The Golden Rule: You must keep picking! 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 house), 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 'Touch of Red' allow for some sophisticated colour combinations. Here are my top pairings from the shop:

• 🥉 Bronze Fennel: The dark, smoky foliage of Bronze Fennel picks up the mahogany-red tips of the Calendula perfectly. Together, they create a warm, architectural look.
• 💙 Cornflowers (Blue): If you prefer high contrast, plant this next to classic blue Cornflowers. The burnished orange and royal blue make each other vibrate with colour.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

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

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)