Celebrate Welsh mums this Mother's Day with our illustrated botanical Welsh language cards, complete with flower seeds to sow, grow and enjoy.
English plant name: Pot Marigold
Welsh plant name: Melyn Mair
Latin name: Caledula officinalis
According to Welsh folklore, a broth made with marigolds could promote appetite and induce sleep. The Medieval Physicians of Myddfai offer a recipe involving blending marigolds with wine, vinegar, strong mead or ale, advising ‘if you are taken ill, you will need no other than this as your only drink’. They also believed it was an effective protector against the plague.
Very easy to grow, Calendula officinalis produces edible flowers that can be added to salads, soups, paella and more, as well as being loved by pollinators.