Description of Marigold Flowers

The Portuguese discovered marigolds growing in Central America in the 16th century. Their bright, lively orange and red hues made marigolds a popular flower for decorating wherever people cultivated them. They're an annual herb that grows from seed to blossom in about 45 days. As a companion plant, marigolds deter beetles. In cooking, marigolds are known as the poor man's saffron, having a slightly bitter, peppery taste.

Marigold Basics
Marigolds belong to the genus Calendula and come in many varieties. In general, you can expect marigolds to grow no higher than 4 feet and spread outward to 3 feet. Marigold leaves are feathery; the petals come in red, yellow, orange, and dark reddish-brown, and the stems are herbaceous. These plants enjoy direct sunlight and well-drained soil. Marigolds have a strong aroma that rabbits dislike. They're sensitive to cold, so wait until mid-May to put them in your garden.

Mexican Marigold
Mexican marigold differs from basic Calendua in that instead of scalloped leaves, Mexican marigold leaves look more willowy. On average, this plant grows to 3 feet and produce intense, yellow flowers.

French Marigolds
French marigolds come in two varieties. The dwarf French marigolds have tiny yellow, gold, orange or brownish-red flowers, or bi-coloring. These are classic, compact marigolds with an intense aroma that helps keep nematodes away. As a result, French marigolds are often used in companion planting. Dwarf marigolds get to be about 1 foot tall and flower throughout the growing season. By comparison, the larger French marigolds grow about 16 inches tall with single-petaled or double-petaled flower diameters of about 2 inches.

African Marigolds
African marigolds are sometimes called Aztec marigolds. This plant reaches about 2 feet in height and is popular as a medicinal flower because of its antioxidant qualities. Try tossing a few into your next fresh salad. This is an early-blooming flower with double petals, usually ranging from orange to yellow in color. African marigolds also come in a tall variety, reaching over 3 feet tall. They yield big yellow or orange flowers in late summer.

Other Varieties
Cultivators introduce new varieties of marigolds every year. Each of these gets categorized by size and shape, but no matter the subcategories all marigolds are divided into one of the three previous species or grouped into the single marigold category. Single marigolds are a very simple flower that has a long stem and characteristics a bit like a daisy.

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