Garden Scheme
Plant library · Annual Flowers
Tagetes erecta
African marigold is a tall annual flower with large pom-pom blooms carried on upright stems. Reaching about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, it brings a strong vertical presence to sunny seasonal beds from early summer into fall. Its bloom stems also make it useful where flowers can be cut without leaving a bare-looking gap in the planting.
Space African Marigold 18 inches apart, measured center to center (45 cm).
The mature spread is about 2 ft (60 cm), so plants set at that distance grow together into a closed canopy over the bed.
Treat 18 inches as a planning baseline — cultivar and local growing conditions shift the final footprint.
Set African marigold in the middle or back of an annual bed, behind shorter edging flowers and far enough from paths that its broad flowering stems do not spill into circulation space. Group several plants where their rounded forms can read as a block of color, or repeat them at intervals along a sunny border. In exposed sites, reserve room for discreet stakes or place the planting near a wind-sheltered structure; taller plants can need support in heavy rain or wind.[1][2]
Space plants 18 inches apart, center to center. Each plant can grow about 2 feet wide, so this close spacing is best treated as a connected seasonal display rather than as clear space around individual plants. Keep the outer row roughly 1 foot back from a path or bed edge to preserve access for cutting, deadheading, and checking stems after storms.
Use a full-sun position for the strongest flowering display. Moderate watering suits a bed that is watered consistently but not kept saturated; well-drained soil helps keep the planting practical through the season. In a mixed border, avoid placing it beneath dense overhangs or where neighboring plants will cast prolonged shade across the stems.[1][2]
This annual occupies its space from early summer through fall, so plan it as a full-season layer rather than a short spring filler. Allow a reachable edge or stepping access beside larger groups: removing spent blooms keeps heavy, aging flower heads from weighing down stems, and regular deadheading can extend the display. Clear the planting when the season ends to reopen the bed for the next design phase.[1][2]