French marigold

Tagetes patula

French marigold is an annual for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun and clay, loam or sandy soil, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Where to use it in a border

At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 30 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 2a to 11b and rated H2 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, sandy soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses French marigold's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Mexican Fleabaneto edge in front
• Rosemaryfor height behind it
• Thriftto edge in front
• Catmintto edge in front
• Creeping Thyme 'Coccineus'to edge in front
• Drumstick Alliumas a partner at the same level

Garden styles

Cottage garden Mediterranean Wildlife garden