Calendula officinalis
Pot-marigold
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Calendula officinalis (Pot-marigold) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key differences: erect heads, sessile clasping leaves, larger disk corollas.
Pot-marigold is a naturalized perennial found in coastal California regions including San Francisco Bay, southern coastal ranges, southern California, and San Bernardino Mountains in disturbed areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale yellow to orange flowers in erect heads that close at night. Growing with slender to somewhat coarse sparingly branched stems, it reaches heights up to 15 centimeters tall with finely hairy vegetation. Its leaves are sessile, thick, and generally clasping at the base, spreading along the stem. The fruit develops 10 to 20 millimeters long, contributing to its distinctive appearance in disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key differences: erect heads, sessile clasping leaves, larger disk corollas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Escape from cultivation in disturbed areas, occasionally from seed mixes
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: native origin unknown
Bloom period
Calendula officinalis blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Tagetes: Calendula has curved crescent-shaped fruits; Tagetes has straight narrow fruits and ferny aromatic leaves.; vs Gerbera: Calendula has curved fruits and smaller flowers; Gerbera has large showy flowers on tall naked stems.; vs Zinnia: Calendula has curved fruits; Zinnia has straight fruits and opposite leaves on stem.; vs Gazania: Calendula has curved fruits and fuzzy leaves; Gazania has straight fruits and white-woolly leaf undersides.; vs Dimorphotheca: Calendula fruits are strongly curved; Dimorphotheca fruits are straight and three-sided.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calendula officinalis native to California?
No. Calendula officinalis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Calendula officinalis bloom?
Calendula officinalis blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Calendula officinalis belong to?
Calendula officinalis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Calendula.
What habitat does Calendula officinalis grow in?
Calendula officinalis grows in Uncommon. Escape from cultivation in disturbed areas, occasionally from seed mixes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.