Marigolds - A Classic Bedding Plant

Overview: Marigolds are cheerful, compact yellow, orange and burgundy annuals with flower shapes that can resemble daisies, coreopsis and carnations.

Latin Name: Tagetes

Common Name(s): Marigold

Zone: Annual

Size: Varies with variety from about 8" to 18"

Exposure: Full sun

Description: There are several divisions of marigold including: African (compact plants with pom-pom like flowers), French (purple tinged stems with double flowerheads) and Signets (upright plants with multi-branched stems and single flowerheads). They tend to have small daisy or carnation like flowers in shades of cream, yellow, orange, burgundy and bi-colors.

Cultural Notes: Marigolds are not fussy. Any good garden soil and a little water during dry spells should keep them happy.

Maintenance: Marigolds are very pest free. In fact, they are often used to keep pests away. They will get powdery mildew in damp or humid summers. Planting in full sun, with air flow, will lessen the problem.

Deadheading will prolong the bloom period.

Design Tips: Marigolds make nice border plants and mix well in containers. They blend well with yellow and orange daylilies, extending the color between daylily blooms.