20 Types of Marigolds to Grow in Your Garden This Season

Part of the sunflower family, marigolds (Tagetes) is a genus native to Central and South America. Now grown throughout the world, marigolds are perennials in hardiness zones 8 and above, but most people know them as annuals.

There are five main types of marigolds each with their unique characteristics and beauty.

African Marigolds (Tagetes erecta) have large flowerheads on tall stems growing up to two feet tall.
French Marigolds (Targetes patula) are compact bushy plants with smaller, complex flowers in various combinations of reds, oranges, and yellows.
Triploid F1 hybrid Marigolds (T. erecta x T. patula) are crosses between the tall, vigorous African marigolds and the compact, free-flowering French marigolds. They are unable to set seed but bloom profusely during the growing season.
Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) is used in Mexican cuisine and has cheerful yellow composite flowers that appear in the late spring and early fall.
Signet Marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) have small blooms and more aromatic foliage than the other varieties. This is the best choice to use in areas to repel bugs.

Marigolds make great companion plants in the garden thanks to their pest-repelling properties, so they're certainly something to add in the coming growing seasons. Here are 20 types of marigolds to get you started.

01 of 20
Alumia Vanilla Cream

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If you prefer a more pastel yellow marigold, then Alumia Vanilla Cream is the right choice. Growing 10-12 inches tall, the plant produces early spring blooms that can be two and one-half inches wide. The blooms last five to seven days on strong, branching stems.
- Name: Alumia Vanilla Cream (Tagetes patula var. 'Alumia Vanilla Cream')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Pale yellow
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 10 - 12 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall
02 of 20
Antigua Orange Hybrid Triploid Hybrids

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Antigua Orange is a 12-inch-tall marigold plant with three-inch bright orange double flower heads. A proficient bloomer, it makes quite a show in the garden.
- Name: Antigua Orange (T. erecta x T. patula F1 hybrid 'Antigua Orange')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Bright orange
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 10-12 inches
- Bloom Time: Summer to mid-fall
03 of 20
Autumn Orange

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A showstopper, Autumn Orange marigolds have two-and-one-half inch wide deep orange ruffled flowers. The blooms are long-lasting and bloom on bushy, 10 inches-wide and 16-inch tall plants.
- Name: Autumn Orange (Tagetes erecta var. 'Autumn Orange')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Orange
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 16 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to mid-fall
04 of 20
Crackerjack

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This heirloom African marigold Crackerjack puts on a show growing to 36 inches tall. The bright yellow fluffy, carnation-like flowers are five inches wide, long-lasting, and perfect for flower arrangements.
- Name: Crackerjack (Tagetes erecta var. 'Crackerjack')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 24-36 inches
- Bloom Time: Summer to mid fall
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05 of 20
Cresta Orange

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Cresta Orange is one of the earliest flowering marigolds. The large showy orange flowers bloom on sturdy stems with the foliage spreading nearly 14 inches. Performs well in containers and can tolerate partial shade.
- Name: Cresta Orange (Tagetes patula var. 'Cresta Orange')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Bright orange
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 10-12 inches
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
06 of 20
Dainty Marietta

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Dainty Marietta lives up to its name with small blooms that put on an early show in the garden. The flowers are yellow with maroon streaks on 12-inch stems. The French marigolds work well in borders or containers.
- Name: Dainty Marietta (Tagetes patula var. 'Dainty Marietta')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Bi-color yellow and maroon
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 12 inches
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
07 of 20
Diamond Jubilee Orange

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Diamond Jubilee Orange is one of the Jubilee African marigold series. The plants grow to 24 inches tall and produce deep orange, dense, double flowers that can be up to four inches wide. A strong, heat-resistant bloomer, it produces a show in the garden.
- Name: Diamond Jubilee Orange (Tagetes erecta var. 'Diamond Jubilee Orange')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Orange
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 24 inches
- Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
08 of 20
Diamond Jubilee Yellow

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Diamond Jubilee Yellow produces bold yellow ball-shaped flowers at the ends of the 16-inch stems from early summer to mid-fall. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution making it a good choice for inner city environments.
- Name: Diamond Jubilee Yellow (Tagetes erecta var. 'Diamond Jubilee Yellow')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Bright yellow
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 16 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to mid fall
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09 of 20
Janie Spry

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As a dwarf French marigold, Janie Spry is an early-blooming choice for edging borders because it reaches only eight inches tall. The double carnation-like floors are red with fluffy deep yellow-orange centers. The foliage remains compact and deep green throughout the growing season.
- Name: Janie Spry (Tagetes patula var. 'Janie Spry')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Red with deep yellow-orange centers
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 8 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall
10 of 20
Lemon Gem

Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)
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Lemon Gem is grown for both its flowers and foliage that when crushed is more aromatic than most other plants. The lemon-like smell can remain for an hour or more after touching the plant. It is often grown as a companion plant for tomatoes and other vegetables to ward off pests.
- Name: Lemon Gem (Tagetes tenuifolia var. 'Lemon Gem)
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Deep yellow
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 6-12 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to late fall
11 of 20
Mexican Tarragon Tagetes lucida

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Mexican Tarragon, also called Mexican mint, Sweet Mace, or Yerba Anise, has small yellow composite flowers that appear profusely in late summer and early fall. Grown primarily for its anise-scented foliage, it pairs well in vegetable gardens with tomatoes or you can plant it in an herb garden, border front, or along a pathway or patio. The tender shoots are often used in Mexican cooking.
- Name: Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida)
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual, zone 8 and above as perennial
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 24 inches
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
12 of 20
Red Gem

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Red Gem, often called a signet marigold, produces crimson blooms on compact mounds of finely divided lacy foliage. A favorite of beneficial pollinators, the plants add a lemony fragrance to beds, borders, and containers.
- Name: Red Gem (Tagetes tenuifolia var. 'Red Gem')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Crimson with golden yellow center
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 6-12 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to late fall
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13 of 20
Red Marietta

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Red Marietta puts on a show all summer with bright two-inch red and orange flowers on the same medium-height plant. Perfect as a pest deterrent, it has a strong, spicy marigold scent.
- Name: Red Marietta (Tagetes patula var. 'Red Marietta')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Red and orange on the same plant
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 12-18 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to mid fall
14 of 20
Safari Gold

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One of the French marigolds in the Safari Series, Safari Gold has extra-large deep gold blooms on compact plants. The blooms have flattened large lower petals that work their way up to ruffled centers and make excellent cut flowers.
- Name: Safari Gold (Tagetes patula var. 'Safari Gold')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Deep gold
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 10-12 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall
15 of 20
Spanish Brocade

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If started from seed, Spanish Brocade is a quick-growing, dwarf French Marigold. The plants produce bi-colored red flowers with gold edges resembling the frills of a Flamenco dress.
- Name: Spanish Brocade (Tagetes patula var. 'Spanish Brocade')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Red with deep yellow-orange centers
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 8 inches
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early fall
16 of 20
Striped Marvel

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Looking like a superhero's costume, Striped Marvel produces a bloom with each petal divided by two red and one yellow stripes. One of the best marigolds for butterfly gardens, the striking blooms are two and one-half inches wide and reach a height of 10 to 24 inches.
- Name: Striped Marvel (Tagetes patula var. 'Striped Marvel')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Red and deep yellow striped petals
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 10-24 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to late fall
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17 of 20
Tall Sierra Orange

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A standout in the garden, Tall Sierra Orange even performs well in poor soil as long as you keep the soil moist. Remove spent flowers to encourage dense growth and new flowers. Feed with a soluble fertilizer every two weeks for stronger plants.
- Name: Tall Sierra Orange (Tagetes erecta var. 'Tall Sierra Orange')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Orange
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 28 inches
- Bloom Time: Summer to mid-fall
18 of 20
Tangerine Gem

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Tangerine Gem offers a summer of blooms and can be used in salads, teas, and to color food. With a flavor similar to tarragon, the flowers are more palatable if you remove the bitter, white base of the petal.
- Name: Tangerine Gem (Tagetes tenuifolia var. 'Tangerine Gem')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Orange
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 6-12 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to late fall
19 of 20
White Gold Max

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Combining the best attributes of the French and African marigolds, this vigorous hybrid produces large flowers on medium-height plants. White Gold Max produces large creamy white, double flowers with tightly packed petals.
- Name: White Gold Max (T. erecta x T. patula F1 hybrid 'White Gold Max')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Creamy white
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 12 inches
- Bloom Time: Summer to mid-fall
20 of 20
Yellow Boy

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Yellow Boy is one of the most commonly sold French marigold cultivars. It features bold yellow pincushion flowers at the ends of the stems that are excellent cut flowers. The fragrant ferny leaves remain dark green throughout the season. A low-maintenance plant, dead-heading spent blooms will encourage more blooms.
- Name: Yellow Boy (Tagetes patula var. 'Yellow Boy')
- Hardiness Zones: 2a - 11b as annual
- Flower Color: Bright lemon yellow
- Light: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Neutral to acidic
- Water: Moist to slightly dry soil
- Mature Size: 10 inches
- Bloom Time: Early summer to early fall