Looking at Tagetes – French, African, Indian and Mexican marigolds
Tagetes have always been stalwarts of the traditional UK garden – but which are the best marigolds to grow from seed?
Just to make it clear, cultivated Tagetes don’t include Calendula (aka the pot or English marigold). Here, I’m looking at African varieties (cultivars and hybrids of the tall T. erecta) and French/Indian marigolds (hybrids and cultivars of smaller T. patula).
There are also triploid multi-coloured types, a hybrid between African and French, plus a Mexican marigold, T. tenuifolia. Here is my pick of the seeds, some old, some new – enjoy! Please check each seller’s website for current prices and availability.
French marigolds
- Red Knight, Mr Fothergill’s. Vigorous and quick to flower but remains compact. Blooms attract lots of beneficial insects to the garden. Height 25cm.
- Striped Marvel, Thompson & Morgan. Raised by a Scottish customer, each petal is evenly divided by a red and yellow stripe. The bushy, uniform plants produce masses of flowers, excellent for cutting, and lasting well in water. Occasional all yellow blooms due to climate stress. Height 60-75cm.
- Strawberry Blonde, Plants of Distinction. A breakthrough in breeding with multicoloured blooms on a single plant. Flowers open a soft shade of strawberry-pink or peach melba with a rustic yellow crest, ageing to straw-yellow. Highly tolerant of bad weather. Height 25cm.
- Durango Red, Premier Seeds Direct (not pictured). Anemone-flowered French marigold with intense rich-red blooms with a hint of golden edging to each petal. Height 25cm.
- Alumia Vanilla Cream, Dobies. British-bred in a unique primrose colour, a first for French types. Its flowers are edible, with a citrusy taste. Height 25cm.
- Fireball F1, Johnsons. Compact, multi-coloured and crested blooms on the same plant. It’s ideal for containers, flowering from June to October.
Indian, African and Mexican varieties
- Kushi, Suttons. The first Indian type on the UK market, and rain resistant. Inspired by the garlands created for weddings and occasions. Kushi means ‘Joy’ in Hindi. With longer stems, it’s ideal for cutting. Flowers July-September. Height 60-70cm.
- Spinning Wheels, Johnsons/Just Seed. A colour-coordinated mix of large African marigolds, guaranteed to bloom throughout the summer. Ideal for pots and bedding. Height 75cm.
- Red Gem, Sarah Raven. The Mexican marigold, T. tenuifolia. Many varieties are top-heavy on compact plants, but not this one, with mahogany crimson blooms. Perfect for pots, as well as underplanting tomatoes. Picture by Jonathan Buckley. Height 30cm.
Want to know how to grow half-hardy annuals? Check out my step-by-step instructions.
