FlowerCalendula
Pink Surprise Calendula
Ornamental
Pink Surprise Calendula is an heirloom annual that delivers genuine surprise in the garden. Its apricot petals are delicately tinged with pink, creating frilly blooms that unfold over an extended season on upright plants reaching just 16 inches tall. From seed to flower takes just 45 to 55 days, making it fast enough for even impatient gardeners. Hardy in zones 4 through 8 and frost-tolerant enough to handle unexpected cold snaps, this self-seeding variety will settle into your garden year after year once established.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/hyacinth-bulbs-pink-surprise)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-8
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Moderately Fertile Soil; Tolerates Poor Soil
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
16 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Spacing
12-18 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-8
Size
16in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The color is genuinely captivating: apricot with soft pink edges and warm chestnut-orange centers that develop as blooms mature. Because Pink Surprise calendula self-seeds, you'll get volunteers the following season without lifting a finger. The compact 16-inch height makes it exceptionally useful in borders and containers, while the frilly flower form catches light beautifully whether fresh in a vase or dried for tea and tinctures.
Common Uses
Pink Surprise calendula flowers are harvested for fresh bouquets and dried arrangements. Gardeners also dry the blooms for herbal teas and tinctures, drawing on calendula's long history in herbalism. The petite size on 16-inch stems makes them particularly suited to smaller floral compositions and tabletop arrangements.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Early Summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. Maintain soil temperature at 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and expect germination in 7 to 14 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost when soil has warmed.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant after your last frost date when soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 10 inches apart.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after your last frost date, or in fall in mild climates for spring blooms. Since Pink Surprise self-seeds readily, you may also allow mature plants to drop seeds naturally for next year's growth.
Harvesting
Harvest blooms for fresh arrangements once petals have fully opened and taken on their characteristic apricot and pink coloring with developed chestnut-orange centers. Cut stems in the early morning for longest vase life. For drying, harvest when flowers are fully open, tie in small bundles, and hang in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space until papery and completely dry, typically 2 to 3 weeks.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Soil pH Range
6 – 7.5
Scientific Classification
Calendula officinalis L.
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Calendula
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (I)CAN (W)