Tagetes, African Marigold, Aztec Marigold, Mexican Marigold

I got this seed in a "Cut Flower Mix" and had no idea what I was getting. (This was just my first year planting, so I went with easy). I ...Read Morenever realized Marigolds got that huge, being used to the small varieties sold in nurseries. But here were these 4" marigolds that were 3 feet tall and still growing. When they past 4 feet, I had to give them some support to keep them off the lawn. Of course, they had competition in the height department from the 5 foot tall Evening Primrose and 6 foot tall Celosias that were from the same seed packet.

I should mention that I didn't just grow these in good old Topeka, Kansas dirt (clay that tends to run alkaline). I had filled what was effectively a raised bed (terrace) with a mix of the aforementioned clay (taking the clayiest pieces out), peat moss, homemade compost and perlite, in about a 3:2:2:1 ratio. The plants certainly seemed to like it.

The following year, the dianthus and Shasta Daisies that had been planted along with the cut flower mix came in, but the other plants didn't really self-seed there. The primroses self seeded in the lawn, but never flowered and a few of the Celosias seeded in lawn downhill from the terrace. There was one that might have been a marigold, but it grew slowly, and the wife got it with a weed wacker before it could flower.

Amazing plant for the butterfly garden. Mine grew to about 4ft before I had to start cutting it back. i dont know how big it would have ...Read Moreactually gotten. Waves of flowers that begin in April dont stop until December here in CA. The flowers actually glow with an inner fire that you have to see to believe. i started 4 more plants this year from the seeds of the first plant and all are growing at the same rate and blooming. Great with verbena bonariensis for the butterfly garden.

I received my seeds in trade here on DG and did not know quite what to expect. The plants are 4 feet tall covered with single orange blos...Read Moresoms and lots of foliage. The branches were so heavy that they broke off the main stem and fell but continued to grow, rooting along the stem where they fell. I would say stake these plants early and support the lower branches. My plant's main stem is 1" in diameter. Plant toward the back of the bed due to their height.

If anything will grow in hot humid Southern Georgia, this will! These flowers just bloom constantly, wave after wave. I planted the "Flow...Read Moreer Power" variety, neon yellow, sun orange, and a couple of red-orange bushes came up. The only thing that has hurt them so far is a torrential storm that tore through and snapped some of the main stems on a few bushes. My advice would be to stake them for support, but other than that- they are problem free and well worth the money.