French Marigold
Tagetes patula
An upright herbaceous plant featuring deeply divided, pinnate dark green leaves and showy, pom-pom-like flower heads in vibrant shades of bright orange, yellow, and red.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Moderate watering frequency. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely before watering again. Displays good drought tolerance once established, and overly soggy soil should be avoided to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Herbaceous annual with an upright, branching growth habit. Typically reaches a mature height of 6 to 18 inches and a spread of 6 to 12 inches with a fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure for at least six to eight hours daily. Water moderately, allowing the soil to dry out between watering sessions, and avoid overhead watering to prevent moisture-related fungal issues. Plant in well-draining soil and apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer sparingly during the growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Moderate watering frequency. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely before watering again. Displays good drought tolerance once established, and overly soggy soil should be avoided to prevent root rot.
Soil
Prefers loose, fertile, and exceptionally well-draining soil with a neutral pH range between 6.0 and 7.0.
Hardiness zone
Typically grown as an annual in USDA zones 2 through 11, though perennial in its native tropical habitats.
Growth habit
Herbaceous annual with an upright, branching growth habit. Typically reaches a mature height of 6 to 18 inches and a spread of 6 to 12 inches with a fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms continuously from late spring until the first autumn frosts, producing double or single flower heads in brilliant orange, yellow, and mahogany red tones with a distinct, pungent foliage fragrance.
Propagation
Propagated easily from seeds sown directly into the soil after the last spring frost, or by stem cuttings rooted in a moist growing medium.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to powdery mildew, gray mold, and root rot in overly humid or damp conditions. Pests such as spider mites and slugs may occasionally affect the foliage.
Similar species
African Marigold (Tagetes erecta), which generally grows taller with larger, more globular flower heads, and Signet Marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia), which features finer, fern-like foliage and smaller, single flowers.