Calendula officinalis Touch of Red Buff | Pot Marigold | Cut Flower

A truly unique calendula in sophisticated beige-pink and buff tones with darker petal tips – perfect for romantic, vintage-style bouquets and cut flower gardens.

Calendula officinalis ‘Touch of Red Buff’ is an unusual and highly decorative pot marigold with a colour palette quite different from traditional orange calendulas. Its softly coloured flowers combine warm buff, beige, peachy-pink and antique apricot tones, while the darker petal tips and centres create a beautiful vintage effect.

Growing to approximately 60 cm tall, Touch of Red Buff produces strong stems that make it an excellent variety for cutting. The muted colouring combines beautifully with apricot, blush, cream, burgundy and other warm seasonal shades.

Easy, fast-growing and tolerant of a wide range of soils, this hardy annual is equally suitable for cutting gardens, flower beds and containers.

Why You'll Love Touch of Red Buff

• Unique beige-pink and antique apricot colouring
• Beautiful darker petal tips
• Sophisticated vintage appearance
• Excellent cut flower
• Long stems suitable for bouquets
• Easy to grow from seed
• Long flowering period with regular harvesting
• Suitable for direct sowing
• Edible flower petals
• Attractive to pollinators
• Excellent companion plant
• Beautiful for cottage and cutting gardens

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Calendula officinalis
• Variety: Touch of Red Buff
• Common name: Pot Marigold
• Flower colour: Buff, beige-pink, antique apricot with darker accents
• Plant height: Approx. 60 cm
• Spread: Approx. 45 cm
• Life cycle: Hardy annual
• Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
• Soil: Well-drained; tolerant of relatively poor soils
• Germination: Approx. 5–10 days
• Germination temperature: Approx. 18–23°C
• Use: Cut flowers, edible flowers, beds, borders, containers and pollinator gardens

Sowing

Direct Sowing

Calendula is very easy to grow and can be sown directly where it is to flower.

Sow outdoors from April to May, or once the soil can be worked.

Sow approximately 10 mm deep into prepared, well-drained soil. Calendula seeds germinate best when covered, as darkness aids germination.

Under suitable conditions, germination usually takes 5–10 days.

Thin seedlings to approximately 30 cm apart once they are large enough to handle.

For an extended flowering season, make successive sowings.

Indoor Sowing

For earlier flowers, seeds can also be started indoors.

Sow into moist seed-starting compost and maintain approximately 18–23°C.

Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into individual pots and continue growing under cooler, bright conditions before planting outdoors.

Calendula can also be sown in autumn for earlier flowering the following year in suitable climates or under protection.

Growing & Care

Touch of Red Buff is an easy and adaptable variety that performs well in most well-drained soils.

Choose a sunny position for the strongest plants and best flower production. Water regularly while young and until plants are well established.

Regular harvesting is one of the best ways to keep calendula flowering.

Cut flowers frequently or remove faded blooms to encourage continuous production and extend the flowering season.

Plants may gently self-seed in suitable conditions.

Harvesting for Cut Flowers

For the best vase quality, harvest when the flowers are partially open or just beginning to open.

Cut stems regularly and deeply to encourage plants to produce additional flowering shoots.

The unusual muted colour of Touch of Red Buff makes it particularly beautiful in natural garden-style arrangements, wedding flowers and vintage-inspired bouquets.

Edible Flowers

The petals of Calendula officinalis are edible and have a mildly tangy, slightly spicy flavour.

Fresh petals can be used to add colour to:

• Salads
• Cakes and desserts
• Soups
• Rice dishes
• Savoury dishes
• Drinks and garnishes

Only consume flowers that have been grown specifically for edible use and have not been treated with unsuitable pesticides or other chemicals.

Perfect For

• Cut flower gardens
• Flower farms
• Wedding and event floristry
• Vintage-style bouquets
• Cottage gardens
• Edible flower gardens
• Pollinator-friendly planting
• Beds and borders
• Containers

Calendula officinalis ‘Touch of Red Buff’ is an exceptional choice for growers looking for something beyond traditional calendula colours. Its unusual beige-pink, buff and antique apricot flowers, darker accents and excellent cutting stems bring a sophisticated vintage character to both gardens and floral arrangements.