Garland Orange Marigold Seeds

Huge, Long-stemmed Flowers!

Big double blooms on tall, wind-tolerant plants

Genus: Tagetes
Species: erecta
Variety: ‘Garland Orange’
Item Form: (P)?Pkt of 25 seeds
Bloom Start To End: Early Summer – Late Summer
Habit: Upright
Seeds Per Pack: 25
Plant Height: 3 ft – 3 ft 6 in
Plant Width: 24 in
Bloom Size: 3.5 in – 4.5 in
Additional Characteristics: Bloom First Year,?Butterfly Lovers,?Cut-and-Come-Again,?Direct Sow,?Double Blooms,?Easy Care Plants,?Ever Blooming,?Flower,?Free Bloomer,?Needs Deadheading
Bloom Color: Dark Orange
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Moisture Requirements: Moist,? well-drained
Resistance: Disease Resistant,?Heat Tolerant,?Pest Resistant
Soil Tolerance: Normal,? loamy,?Poor
Uses: Beds,?Containers,?Cut Flowers,?Outdoor

The star of our trial gardens this past summer, Garland Orange is a tall, long-stemmed, double-flowered African Marigold, magnificent and heavy-flowering all summer long. A far cry from the neat, petite bedding plants many of us are used to, this majestic showstopper deserves a place of honor in the annual garden!

Marigolds are used extensively in Hindu ceremonies and observations, and this variety was bred just for that purpose, with flexible, super-strong stems that can be braided and tied into garlands and other decorations. The flowers are absolutely immense — 3? to 4? inches wide — and packed with deep orange petals in symmetrical layers forming a pompon, vibrant and eye-catching even from a distance. Garland Orange is a flower that demands notice, and gets it every time!

The height of your Garland Orange plant will be determined by the climate in which you live. The plants are day-length sensitive, so they will be taller in the south and west than in the north. Here in South Carolina (hardiness zone 7b/8a), they reach 3 to 3? feet tall, creating a stunning wall of color. We have heard of Garland Oranges farther south reaching 5 feet tall, but in short-day climates they might be more likely to top out at 2 to 2? feet. Whatever the height, the flowers will be borne on long, flexible stems.

The other terrific merit of this Marigold is its determination to bloom all season long. As fast as you can cut the flowers, new buds appear. This plant was bred for cutting, so it is a powerful workhorse. If you’re used to small bedding Marigolds, you’re in for a delightful treat!

And you don’t have to worry about wind damaging the stems of the blooms. Garland Orange was bred for wind tolerance, and the flexibility of the stems serves them well. Despite its appearance, this is no hot-house delicacy — Garland Orange is just as adaptable to varying soils and easy to grow as other Marigolds!

Marigolds are one of the easiest seeds to direct-sow in the warm spring garden, but if you want to get a jump on the season, you can start them indoors instead — they don’t mind being transplanted. Four to 6 weeks before the last anticipated frost in your area, drop the seeds into the holes in your Bio Dome (or lightly cover them with soil if you’re using seed flats) and keep the temperature between 70 and 75 degrees F. They’ll sprout within a week, and will grow on at any temperature between 50 and 65 degrees F. Transplant them when outdoor temperatures reach 60 degrees F, spacing the plants about 2 feet apart (again, your climate will determine the exact plant size, so experiment a little the first year). All they need is full sunshine and well-drained soil — for heaviest flowering, go easy on the fertilizer.

Garland Orange is a Marigold every gardener deserves to grow. Have fun with this new twist on an old favorite! Pkt is 25 seeds.