The two most popular varieties of Marigolds are French Marigolds and African Marigolds. Marigolds are used to repel harmful insects like Aphids and Whiteflies while also attracting the helpful insects like Ladybugs who feed on Aphids.
While they both are both super beneficial to the garden they have some distinctive differences you should be aware of before planting. The main differences between the two? Height and Flower Size.
French Marigolds
French Marigolds are most often the variety you see companion planted in gardens because they are so compact. French Marigolds only grow up to about 6 to 12 inches which makes them the perfect size to plant at the base of vegetable plants like tomatoes and peppers. French Marigolds tend to be a lot more compact and bushier with flower heads only reaching about 1-2 inches in diameter.
African Marigolds
African Marigolds, on the other hand, can get huge depending on the variety. Most African Marigolds will get between 12 to 36 inches tall. So, planting them very closely or under vegetable plants is not recommended. But, with that said they can still be used in the garden. They still work like the French Marigolds by attracting the good insects and repelling the bad just be sure they have enough space to grow without impeding other plants.
African Marigolds also make a really great cut flower. Because African Marigolds grow more upright they tend to have long stems and large heads measuring up to 5 inches in diameter, making them perfect for bouquets.
Both French and African Marigolds make a great addition to the garden. Besides, attracting the good insects and repelling the bad, Marigolds offer a long lasting show of color from Summer into Fall. Both varieties come in shades of yellow, orange, red combinations. They’re also fairly drought tolerant plants which if you live in Oklahoma you should be thankful for.
Did you know that Marigold seeds are like the easiest seed in the world to harvest? If you never want to have to buy Marigold seeds again take a peek my blog post on HOW TO SAVE MARIGOLD SEEDS and learn how easy it is to save seed to plant next year!
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