Marigolds stand among the most reliable plants you can grow when you need a pop of color in your garden. The good news is that the marigold plant comes in several varieties, with each having its distinctive color, shape, and texture. Here’s a short guide to marigold color combinations and what varieties they come from.
What Colors do Marigolds Come In?
Generally speaking, marigolds tend to have orange, yellow, golden, or red flowers. They’re usually shaped like a ball or cup and are big and numerous enough that they can cover the plant’s foliage. It doesn’t take that much to force marigolds to flower- they will do so cheerfully on their own as long as they’re sitting in full sun.
You can choose what color to have in your landscape when it comes to planting marigolds. There are roughly four types of marigolds- African, French, Signet, and Triploids, and they all have their subsets and varieties.
Marigold Varieties and Colors
African Marigold
African marigold is also known as American marigold and features large, pom-pom shaped blooms that can brighten anyone’s day. The species is usually started from seed and are considered annuals as they won’t tolerate cold and frost.
African marigolds are much taller than their French varieties and can top out at 3 feet (36 inches).
The most popular varieties and respective African marigold colors are the following:
Crackerjack Marigolds
The Marigold ‘Crackerjack’ produces double blooms of around 5 inches in diameter and shades of orange, gold and yellow. The flower stalks are sturdy and rise above the foliage.
Vanilla Improved Hybrid
A rather unique African marigold specimen, the Vanilla hybrid has wide and creamy-white flowers that spread out around 3 inches wide. It’s quick to bloom and best grown in partial sun.
Taishan Gold Marigold
The ‘Taishan Gold’ is the marigold to plant if you live in a region that experiences regular rainfall. This marigold variety pushes out circular golden blooms and can grow as tall as 12 inches.
French Marigold
French Marigolds are perhaps the most interesting type of marigolds around. Their blooms are quite unique and exhibit different color combinations and patterns. It’s worth noting that they grow well in containers and can even be brought indoors. French varieties tend to be smaller and more compact.
The most popular varieties and French marigold colors are the following:
Bonanza Marigold
The Marigold ‘Bonanza’ sports 3-inch flowers that have a red and orange center, and yellow borders. Flowering starts in late spring and continues well into the fall season.
Bounty Marigold
Only reaches around 12 inches tall but is a very prolific bloomer. The color arrangement the plant has is the opposite of ‘Bonanza’, with a yellow center and red-orange borders.
Alumia Creme Brulee
An early flowering French marigold species with bi-color characteristics. The blooms are primarily yellow with thick red streaks running in the middle of the petals.
Safari Mixture Marigold
A semi-double marigold variety that can produce mahogany-red, orange, and carnation yellow flowers. The plant has a stronger aroma than other marigold species. If you’re looking to get a splash of different marigold colors, then this is for you.
Triploid Hybrid Marigold
Triploid marigolds are basically hybrids of the French and African varieties. These plants are tough and can withstand extremely humid and hot environments. They produce striking, long-lasting blooms and are very easy to care for as well.
The most popular varieties of Triploid Hybrids include the following:
Nugget Marigold
The ‘Nugget’ series has a range of colored marigold blooms from gold to red and the usual yellow and orange. The flowers are double in size and are fragrant to a degree. The marigold species only grow up to a foot (12 inches) in length.
Zenith Marigold
Zenith lacks a seed set and thus stays in bloom for longer than its French and African varieties. The flowers are 2 to 3 inches in diameter and range in color from golden yellow to red-orange.
Signet Marigold
Signet marigold plants may have the smallest flower size among all types, but they tend to be more numerous than the others. There are several more benefits to growing signet marigolds in your garden, such as having a fragrant citrus-like aroma and an edible specimen that can be added to dishes.
The most popular Signet Marigold varieties and colors include the following:
Lemon Gem Marigold
Exactly as its name suggests, you get bright, canary yellow blooms in single characteristics all summer season. The leaves are somewhat different from the usual marigold foliage as they’re narrower and appear as thin reeds.
Red Gem Marigold
Striking red single blooms appear in summer when you plant ‘Red Gem’. Keep the soil consistently moist and the plant will happily produce more buds and therefore, more marigold color. Upon maturity, the flower will have a yellow bushy center that turns into a viable seed.
Pot Marigold
Although not a true marigold species, the pot marigold deserves a special mention. The annual plant sports bright yellow and orange flowers and are often grown for culinary use in the kitchen. They are hardy enough to be grown where there’s full sun.
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