Here is what African Marigold needs to thrive.

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African Marigold

Tagetes erecta

Zones 7–13

Growing

These fragrant, upright annuals are a staple for any warm-season garden, especially if you want to invite pollinators to your flower beds. You can start your seeds indoors to get a head start before transplanting them into the garden once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Because they grow on a single upright stem, they are particularly well-suited for containers or as focal points in garden borders.

To keep your blooms looking vibrant and to encourage the plant to continue reblooming, practice regular deadheading by removing spent flowers. This simple maintenance helps the plant direct its energy into new blossoms rather than seed production. If you are interested in using them for floral arrangements, these blooms make excellent cut flowers, and their sturdy structure also makes them ideal for drying.

When managing your garden space, keep an eye on the area around the base of your plants. Maintaining good weed control is essential, as dense weeds can sometimes harbor issues in the soil. While these flowers are beautiful and beneficial for pollinators, please keep in mind that they are toxic to pets.

Stats
Sunfull sun
Watermedium
Grow time—
Height1–3ft
Spacing12–24in
Light
Full sun✓
Part shade✓
Shade✗
Traits
Life cycleannual
Categorygarden annual
Growth habitupright
Seasonwarm
Frost tolerancetender
Height1–3ft
Spacing12–24in
Days to bloom45–90
Native us✗
Growing
Watermedium
Drainagewell drained
Soil ph min6.0
Soil ph max7.5
Propagation
Seed✓
Cutting✗
Division✗
Graft✗
Tuber bulb crown✗
Transplant✓
Container ok✓
Spreadself seeds
Deer resistant✓
Drought tolerant✓
Pollinator friendly✓
Toxic to
People✗
Pets✓
Livestock✗
Bloom
Length6–12wk
Colors
White✓
Yellow✓
Orange✓
Red✓
Pink✗
Purple✗
Blue✗
Green✗
Fragrant✓
Reblooms✓
Deadhead✓
Cut flower✓
Dried flower✓
Invasive
Statusnone
Regions
Northeast✗
Southeast✗
Midwest✗
Plains✗
Southwest✗
Mountain west✗
Pacific northwest✗
California✗
Hawaii✗
State noxious✗
Escapes cultivation✗
Pollinators
Visitors
Honey bees✓
Native bees✓
Bumblebees✓
Butterflies✓
Moths✓
Hummingbirds✗
Beneficial insects✓
Nectarmedium
Pollenhigh
Larval host✓
Specialist bees✗
Seed for birds✓
Calendar, zone 7
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sownononoyesyesnonononononono
Harvest————————————