Types of marigolds

Marigolds are annuals grown from seed, sold in three main groups: French, African and signet. Use the filters to narrow the list by type, color and height, then open a variety for its full record and where to buy seed.

All marigolds

40 marigold varieties

A Antigua marigold flower up close on the plant Antigua Compact F1 African marigold with 3-inch double blooms in yellow, gold and orange. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
A Bonanza marigold flower up close on the plant Bonanza Compact French marigold series with double crested blooms on 6 to 10-inch plants. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Boy O Boy marigold flower up close on the plant Boy O Boy Dwarf crested French marigold mix on 8-inch plants. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Cempasúchil marigold flower up close on the plant Cempasúchil Tall Mexican marigold with large deep orange to yellow blooms. AfricanEarly summerTall
A Climax marigold flower up close on the plant Climax Tall Burpee African marigold with 4 to 5 inch double blooms in yellow and orange. AfricanEarly summerTall
A Crackerjack marigold flower up close on the plant Crackerjack Tall African marigold mix with 4-inch double blooms in orange, gold and yellow. AfricanEarly summerTall
A Disco marigold flower up close on the plant Disco Dwarf French marigold mix with single 2-inch blooms in warm colors. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Discovery marigold flower up close on the plant Discovery Dwarf African marigold with 2 to 3 inch double orange and yellow blooms. AfricanEarly summerCompact
A Dropshot Irish Lace marigold flower up close on the plant Dropshot Irish Lace Tagetes filifolia herb marigold, 14 inch mounds of fine lacy foliage. OtherEarly summerMedium height
A Durango marigold flower up close on the plant Durango Compact French marigold series with 2 to 2.5-inch blooms on 8 to 12-inch plants. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Eskimo marigold flower up close on the plant Eskimo Compact white African marigold with fully double creamy white flowers, 12 to 18 inches. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
A French Vanilla marigold flower up close on the plant French Vanilla White African marigold with rounded 3-inch flowers that age from vanilla white to yellow. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
A Harlequin marigold flower up close on the plant Harlequin Tall heirloom French marigold with single golden-orange blooms striped mahogany. FrenchEarly summerTall
A Inca II marigold flower up close on the plant Inca II Compact F1 African marigold with 4 to 5 inch double blooms in yellow, gold and orange. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
A Janie marigold flower up close on the plant Janie Dwarf French marigold series with double 1 to 2-inch blooms on 8 to 10-inch plants. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Kilimanjaro White marigold flower up close on the plant Kilimanjaro White White African marigold with 3-inch fully double creamy white blooms. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
Lady Upright African marigold with fully double bright yellow blooms. AfricanEarly summerTall
A Lemon Drop marigold flower up close on the plant Lemon Drop Compact French marigold with 1-inch double lemon-yellow flowers, under 12 inches tall. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Lemon Gem marigold flower up close on the plant Lemon Gem Signet marigold with small lemon-yellow edible flowers on 10-18 inch mounds. SignetEarly summerMedium height
A Lemon Star marigold flower up close on the plant Lemon Star Signet marigold, lemon-yellow flowers with a maroon central star on 10-18 inch mounds. SignetEarly summerMedium height
A Mr. Majestic marigold flower up close on the plant Mr. Majestic Dwarf French marigold with single blooms striped mahogany and gold. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Naughty Marietta marigold flower up close on the plant Naughty Marietta Short French marigold with single deep yellow blooms marked maroon. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Paprika marigold flower up close on the plant Paprika Signet marigold, dime-sized deep red flowers edged gold on 10-12 inch mounds. SignetEarly summerCompact
A Perfection marigold flower up close on the plant Perfection Mid-height F1 African marigold with 3.5-inch rounded yellow or orange blooms. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
A Petite marigold flower up close on the plant Petite Dwarf French marigold mix with double gold, orange and yellow blooms. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Queen Sophia marigold flower up close on the plant Queen Sophia French marigold with fully double mahogany-red blooms edged in gold. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Red Cherry marigold flower up close on the plant Red Cherry Compact French marigold with deep red petals backed in yellow. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Red Gem marigold flower up close on the plant Red Gem Signet marigold with small single red edible flowers on compact mounds. SignetEarly summerMedium height
A Safari marigold flower up close on the plant Safari Dwarf French marigold mix about a foot tall in orange, scarlet, yellow and tangerine. FrenchEarly summerMedium height
A Sparky Mix marigold flower up close on the plant Sparky Mix Open-pollinated French marigold mix, double yellow to red flowers on 10-12 inch plants. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Starfire Mix marigold flower up close on the plant Starfire Mix Tall signet marigold mix, penny-sized red, orange and gold blooms for cutting. SignetEarly summerTall
A Strawberry Blonde marigold flower up close on the plant Strawberry Blonde Dwarf French marigold with double blooms that shift from red to apricot and peach. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Sugar & Spice White marigold flower up close on the plant Sugar & Spice White African marigold with 3-inch cream blooms fading to white with pink flecks. AfricanEarly summerTall
A Super Hero marigold flower up close on the plant Super Hero Dwarf French marigold mixture with densely double 2-inch blooms on 10 to 12-inch plants. FrenchEarly summerCompact
A Sweet Mace marigold flower up close on the plant Sweet Mace Tagetes lucida, tender perennial herb marigold with small yellow late-season flowers. OtherLate summerTall
A Taishan marigold flower up close on the plant Taishan Dwarf African marigold with 3 to 4 inch blooms in yellow, gold and orange. AfricanEarly summerCompact
A Tangerine Gem marigold flower up close on the plant Tangerine Gem Signet marigold with small tangerine-orange edible flowers on 10-18 inch mounds. SignetEarly summerMedium height
A Vanilla marigold flower up close on the plant Vanilla F1 African marigold with fully double creamy white blooms on 16-inch plants. AfricanEarly summerMedium height
A White Swan marigold flower up close on the plant White Swan Tall cut-flower African marigold with cream to pale yellow double blooms. AfricanEarly summerTall
A Zenith marigold flower up close on the plant Zenith F1 triploid marigold series, 2-3 inch double blooms on 12-15 inch plants. TriploidEarly summerMedium height

How to choose

  1. Pick the type. Clemson Cooperative Extension describes French marigolds as compact, African marigolds as reaching up to 36 inches, and signets as small and bushy.

  2. Check the Height column for edging, pots or the back of a bed.

  3. Plan to deadhead. Clemson Cooperative Extension advises removing old flowers as they fade for continued bloom.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start marigold seed?

Clemson Cooperative Extension suggests starting seed indoors four to six weeks before planting out, or sowing outdoors after frost danger passes. Seed germinates in 5 to 7 days.

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