11 Best Types of Marigolds + How to Grow them in Pots

We all love Marigolds for their beauty! But which one is gorgeous of them all? Here are some of the best Types of Marigolds you can grow!

The bright colors of marigolds can make any garden look fabulous. They also make for great companion plants for vegetables and attract pollinators too! So, which one should you be picking for yourself? Here’s a good overview of the best Types of Marigolds!

Check out our article on the best types of Jasmine Flowers here

Types of Marigolds

Here are the best types of marigolds with their details and benefits.

1. French Marigolds

Botanical Name: Tagetes patula

Height/Spread: 6-12/5-12 inches

French marigolds are bushy annuals with semi-double, double, or crested flowers in orange, red, and yellow shades. They bloom from early summer till frost and produce flowers and foliage with a spicy fragrance.

Best Varieties

• Hero Series: Double carnation flowers on a tall plant in yellow, orange, and maroon shades.
• Little Hero Series: Produces combinations of orange, maroon, and yellow double carnation flowers.
• Bonanza Series: Compact and bushy plant producing wide double carnation flowers in maroon, yellow, and orange shades.
• Boy O’ Boy Series: It features flowers in orange, yellow, and maroon shades.
• Janie Series: Ideal for growing in pots, it showcases early-blooming, double carnation flowers of yellow, orange, and maroon.
• Aurora Series: Forms anemone-like flowers in yellow, orange, and maroon shades.

2. African Marigolds

Botanical Name: Tagetes erecta

Height/Spread: 12-40/12-24 inches

Also popular as the Aztec or American marigold, it has large, double flowers in yellow, orange, and white colors. Both flowers and foliage emit a strong scent, which can be helpful in warding off rabbits and other animals.

Best Varieties

• Jubilee Series: Has double flowers in shades of orange and yellow.
• Gold Coin Series: Produces large, double blossoms in yellow, orange, and gold shades.
• Safari Series: Features large flat flowers in yellow, orange, and maroon shades.
• French Vanilla: Grows elegant, creamy white flowers.

3. Triploid Hybrids Marigolds

Botanical Name: Tagetes erecta x Tagetes patula

Height/Spread: 12-24 inches

A cross between African and French marigolds, they grow super large flowers that take hot seasons quite well. They can be a little challenging to grow, but the results are rewarding!

Best Varieties

• Zenith: Offer striking flowers in orange, red, and yellow colors. Comes in two types-Anemone Carnation.
• Nugget: Not as popular, the double flowerheads come in gorgeous shades of orange, yellow, red, and gold.

4. Signet (Single) Marigolds

Botanical Name: Tagetes tenuifolia

Height/Spread: 12-18 inches

What makes them different from the rest is their edible nature! You can enjoy them in salads for added sweetness. The plant displays abundantly rich-colored, small, showy, single-flowers with lacy foliage.

Best Varieties

• Lemon Gem: Comes in a canary yellow shade and blossoms all summer.
• Red Gem: A small variety in red shade.
• Irish Lace: A short plant featuring tiny white flowerets and lacy leaves.

5. Wild Marigold

Botanical Name: Tagetes minuta

Height/Spread: 6-24/6-10 inches

Wild Marigold has small flowers packed in terminal clusters within a green sheath. Its leaves are edible and are also used in making herbal tea. The oil derived from the plant is used for making perfumes.

6. Mountain Marigold

Botanical Name: Tagetes lemmonii

Height/Spread: up to 6/up to 10 feet

The plant is a drought-tolerant variety that produces bright yellow flowers in late winter to early spring. This shrub-like plant grows up to 6 feet tall and wide and has fern-like foliage.

The plant’s strong fragrance is used to repel pests and is commonly used in companion planting.

7. Spanish Tarragon

Botanical Name: Tagetes lucida

Height/Spread: 14-15/8-12 inches

Also famous as the ‘abnormal’ Marigold, this medicinal plant has beautiful yellow flowers that are edible and carry an anise note. It is also a part of the Herbes de Provence.

Plants that are also Popular as ‘Marigold’ but are not part of the ‘Tagetes’ Genus

8. Pot Marigold

Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis

Height/Spread: 12-14/8-12 inches

Not a true marigold–it is a part of the Aster family. Thanks to its edible flowers, people grow it for both ornamental and culinary purposes. It comes in striking shades of orange, pink, cream, and yellow.

Best Varieties

• Touch of Red: Has orange and red flowers with petals having a red tip.
• Greenheart Orange: This variety has orange flowers with a green center.
• Bronzed Beauty: Comes in cream and peach flowers.
• Radio Extra: This one is a tall plant with cactus-like orange flowers.
• Sherbet Fizz: Grows buff-hued flowers with red undersides.

9. Marsh Marigold

Botanical Name: Caltha palustris

Height/Spread: 8-24/12-24 inches

Marsh Marigold is a water-loving plant that produces bright yellow flowers in early spring. It grows in moist areas such as swamps, ditches, and along streams. The plant’s shiny dark green leaves and vibrant flowers make it an attractive addition to any water garden.

10. Desert Marigold

Botanical Name: Baileya multiradiata

Height/Spread: 8-20/4-12

Desert Marigold is a resilient plant that thrives in arid conditions. This plant produces yellow daisy-like flowers with a darker center and blooms from early spring to late fall.

Its gray-green leaves and long flowering period make it a great choice for xeriscaping.

11. Cape Marigold

Botanical Name: Dimorphotheca sinuata

Height/Spread: 4-18/12-24 inches

The Cape Marigold is a colorful plant that produces a profusion of daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, orange, and yellow. This plant grows up to 18 inches tall and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.

This flower’s unique characteristic is that its flowers close up at night and on cloudy days, making it a great addition to a garden or landscape.

Propagating & Growing Marigolds

• You can grow them from both seeds and softwood cuttings.
• For zones 8 or higher, you can grow them all year long.
• Plant them after the first frost in your area.
• Marigolds do best in bright sunlight. Pick the spot accordingly.

Container Size

It depends upon the variety you are growing. For French, Signet, and Pot Marigolds, 6-8 inches pots will suffice. For bigger varieties like African Marigolds, take a pot of 10-12 inches. If the pot is small, go with the ‘one plant per one pot’ rule.

Requirements for Growing Marigolds in Pots

Location

This plant is in love with sunlight. The more, the merrier it is going to be for the flowers and their magnificent colors.

Soil

Marigolds are not fussy when it comes to soil requirements. Your regular potting soil will work just fine. If you want the best results, use loamy soil with some water retention capability.

Watering

Water them well and let the soil go a bit dry before you reach for the can again. Drainage holes in pots will do their work to drain the excess water out. Avoid watering the foliage.

Marigold Care in Pots

Fertilizer

A 5-10-5 or 10-10-10 blend will work just fine. The key here is to use a less amount than recommended on the label, as over-fertilizing the plant will hurt the flowers. Applying a liquid fertilizer once in two-three weeks diluted to 1/4 or 1/2 of its recommended strength should be fine.

Deadheading and Pinching

Just snip off the spent flowers as you see them. This will encourage new blooms. Pinching the tips of your marigold, especially when it is young, is also important to get the fuller plant.

Pest and Diseases

Spider mites and aphids love marigolds. Gentle use of insecticidal soap or neem oil will be enough to keep them at bay.

Fungal diseases like powdery mildew can attack these plants often if they’re kept too wet. To avoid this, keep the leaves dry, and provide proper air circulation and full sunlight.