Tagetes patula Queen Orange

The 'Queen Orange' French marigold, in Latin Tagetes (x) patula, is part of a series of recent hybrids, whose double flowers, called 'camellia-like', are larger and more regular than those of traditional varieties. The flowers here are a beautiful bright and pure orange and they bloom continuously until the end of summer on a sturdy plant, adorned with finely cut leaves. It is an easy and generous annual, which will undoubtedly bring a radiant touch to summer compositions and sunny borders.

The Tagetes Patula 'Queen Orange' is a herbaceous and frost-tender perennial, grown as an annual in most climates. It belongs to the aster family and descends from a botanical species native to tropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico to Bolivia. This plant quickly forms a compact, bushy, upright and branched clump from the base, reaching a height of 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in) and a diameter of 30 cm (11.8 in). Its robust angular stems bear large double flowers, mainly at the top, resembling flattened pompoms. They bloom from June until the first frost. Its leaves, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) long, are deeply cut and loaded with an essential oil with medicinal properties, whose characteristic scent recalls citrus fruits and pepper, or even apple.

French marigolds and African marigolds are star plants in summer flower beds, due to their very easy cultivation, in borders or in pots on the terrace. The sturdy stems allow for beautiful summer bouquets. The 'Queen Orange' variety, truly radiant, naturally finds its place in flower boxes and pots. It can also be planted en masse in the border of a flower bed or pathway, combined with the grey foliage of artemisias and stachys, the blue flowers of ageratums, and the white carpets of alyssums. Its combination with foliage plants is always successful: tansies, Kochia Childsii or small grasses (Stipa, Carex, fescues) will temper its very doubled, large corollas. French marigolds are edible, and their petals can be added to summer salads to intensify their flavour and colour.

The scent of French marigold foliage, and the substances secreted by their roots, repel certain pests harmful to crops, which is why these plants are often installed among the vegetables in the vegetable garden. African marigolds, on the other hand, are also medicinal and dye plants, from which an essential oil and a yellow food coloring can be extracted.

Note: Please be aware that our plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under shelter (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2 °F) for a few weeks before being installed outdoors once the risk of frost is definitively eliminated.