The popular flowering plants called marigolds are known for their bright blooms and strongly scented leaves. Marigolds are commonly planted in parks as flower borders, and home gardeners often plant them along the edges of gardens. Some marigolds produce a disagreeable odor that can repel certain garden pests. Some people therefore plant marigolds in vegetable gardens. The name marigold refers to a number of plants, not all of which are related. Most, however, belong to the scientific family Tagetes. These plants are native to southwestern North America, Central America, and South America. They are annual plants, which means that they live for only one year. Physical featuresMarigolds generally grow from about 1 to 5 feet (0.3 to 1.5 meters) tall. Their flowers are usually red, orange, or yellow. The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem of the plant. Marigolds also have leaflike structures called bracts that form a cup-shaped base below each flower. The most popular marigold varieties include the French marigold and the African marigold. The French marigold is a bushy plant that reaches a height of about 20 inches (51 centimeters). It has small flowers that grow between 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) in width. The flowers are usually gold with red markings. The African marigold is a taller plant, reaching a height of more than 3 feet (91 centimeters). Its large, round flowers can be more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide. They are pale yellow to deep orange in color. How marigolds are grownMarigolds are usually raised from seeds in greenhouses. People then buy established plants in small containers for planting in their gardens. Marigolds grow well in sunny areas and typically bloom from summer until the first frost. Gardeners pinch off dead flowers to improve the appearance of the plant and to encourage the growth of more flowers. |