Marigold Flower Seeds

Marigolds are a popular, unfussy annual, perfect for bringing the colour of sunshine to containers, summer borders or mass plantings. Marigold seeds germinate quickly, flowering within two months of sowing. Blooming from late spring through to autumn, their nectar-rich flowers will attract plenty of bees, butterflies, ladybugs and other beneficial insects to your garden. Marigolds are also useful as a companion plant in the vegetable garden, emitting a strong scent that repels greenfly, blackfly, tomato hornworms and other unwanted predators and pests. African marigolds tend to be slightly taller growing while French marigolds are dwarf varieties. Single marigolds have a daisy-like appearance with long stems whilst triploids are a hybrid between African and French marigolds, often delivering a multi-coloured display. All tend to be available in shades of orange and yellow, sometimes flushed with red, gold, brass or copper. Choose Marigold African Cream Cracker for fully double flowers and a comparatively compact growth habit. Alternatively, French Marigold Naughty Marietta performs well whatever the weather with bright yellow blooms streaked with mahogany. Deadhead faded flowers regularly to improve the appearance of your bedding plants and encourage more flowers later in the season.