Calendula. Calendula officinalis.

Calendula is loved around the world for its cheerful hearty blooms that just keep going from early summer to the first frost. Its scent is divine—there is nothing better than the smell drifting off a basketful of drying flowers. Its volatile oils helps with circulation and mood. Its resin contains the antimicrobial and antiinflammatory elements that make calendula popular in skincare products.

Medieval people used to toss calendula into soups and stews to ensure good health and strewed it under their beds to protect from robbers and thieves. King Henry the VIII’s cooks relied on it to impart bright colors to his food… Truly a plant of many talents.