A favorite annual is the Marigold or Tagetes. Bold colours in Yellows, Oranges, Lemons Reds and Creams are a feature of these plants that flower from July to the first frost. Despite the names they all originate from Mexico.

Description of Marigolds

• Members of the Tagetes family are half hardy annuals that flower profusely from July until September.
• African Marigold is the taller type 10″ high with flower heads up to 3″ across.
• French Marigold is a compact, bushier plant suitable for edging to flower beds and paths.
• Flowers are generally doubles coloured golden, orange, yellow, and white often with maroon highlights.
• Rounded discs or large florets display vibrant colours on thin deeply cut unassuming leaves.
• The leaves have a distinct scent that deters some insects.

Cultivation Tips for Marigolds

• Easily grown from seed these plants flower quickly and can be sown in situ
• Cover seed with 1/4 inch of soil and provide an average soil warmth of 24°C if grown in a greenhouse.
• Plant African types 12 inches apart and French types 6-8 inches apart.
• Deadhead particularly the African types.
• Can be bought as plug plants in summer.
• Slugs and snails seem to love nibbling the foliage and can soon denude a plant

Varieties, Species and Types of Marigold

• Tagetes erecta – African Marigold. Tagetes patula – French Marigold. Tagetes tenuifolia – Marigold gems
• ‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Safari Tangerine’ have the award of garden merit AGM
• Marigold ‘Striped Marvel’Tagetes patula has yellow and maroon stripes
• Pot marigolds or Calendula and Marsh marigolds are a different species
• Tagetes are the smaller often single flowers. More than 150 years old and still going strong, the heirloom variety of French Marigold Single Legion of Honour fits this description

Horticulture Sources and Advice on Marigolds

• You can often obtain seeds or plants from our mail order company of choice Thompson & Morgan
• Easily grown from seed these plants flower quickly and can be sown in situ
• The ‘French’ varieties tend to be smaller flowers in clusters on bushy plants
• Africans are larger and showy
• Some African varieties can grow up to 5 feet tall but have fewer poorer flowers. The finely cut leaves are still attractive. For a medium to tall selection try ‘Crackerjack’
• Marigold leaves keep white fly away from greenhouse tomatoes and I grow a few plants for that purpose. The roots are also reputed to kill or inhibit some weeds
• These plants are not to be confused with Pot Marigolds called Calendula

More marigold flower Photographs