Calendula officinalis 'Orange King' – Double-flowered Orange Marigold

Calendula officinalis 'Orange King' is a beautiful, double-flowered marigold known for its deep orange color and abundant blooms. This annual is ideal for gardeners seeking a striking, decorative plant for borders, pots, or cut flower production. 'Orange King' combines impressive ornamental value with ease of cultivation, making it a favorite with both amateur gardeners and professional growers.

Features of Orange King

• Double-flowered: 'Orange King' is the most double-flowered marigold, resulting in a full and lush bloom. This double bloom creates a luxurious look, perfect for bouquets or a colorful border.

• Deep orange color: The flowers have a warm, vibrant orange hue that immediately stands out and brings a sunny atmosphere to your garden or arrangements.

• Versatile use: Suitable for cool greenhouse cultivation, outdoor cultivation and forcing, allowing flowering to be adapted to different growing conditions and seasons.

Cultivation and care

• Sowing and planting: For an early start, sow indoors or in a cold frame a few weeks before the last frost. For direct outdoor cultivation, sow as soon as the risk of night frost has passed.

• Soil and location: Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained, fertile soil. Regular watering is essential, but avoid wet feet to prevent root rot.

• Maintenance: Remove faded flowers regularly to prolong flowering. Thanks to its compact and robust growth, 'Orange King' requires little maintenance.

Use in garden and cut flowers

• Cut flowers: Thanks to its full, double blooms and intense color, 'Orange King' is ideal for bouquets and flower arrangements. The long stems and sturdy petals make this marigold perfect for professional cut flower cultivation.

• Borders and flower beds: Combine several plants for a vibrant, warm border. The deep orange flowers complement other annuals like zinnias, cosmos, or salvia perfectly.

• Pots and patios: The compact growth makes the plant suitable for pots and patios, where it fulfils a striking decorative function.

Benefits of Calendula officinalis 'Orange King'

• Full, double flowers with an intense orange colour.

• Long flowering period from late spring to early autumn.

• Suitable for both outdoor cultivation and castle cultivation and forcing.

• Easy to grow and maintain.

• Perfect for cut flower production and decorative purposes in borders and pots.

Conclusion

Calendula officinalis 'Orange King' offers a combination of beauty, versatility, and ease of cultivation. With its deep orange, double blooms and robust growth, this marigold is an excellent choice for gardens, borders, pots, and professional cut flower growers. The variety performs well in both cool greenhouses and outdoors and can even be forced for earlier flowering. Whether you want to brighten a garden, decorate a patio, or produce high-quality cut flowers, 'Orange King' brings warmth, color, and an impressive density of flowers to any project.