French marigold Petite Orange seeds - Tagetes patula

'French Marigold 'Petite Orange'', known by its Latin name Tagetes patula, is a very prolific dwarf variety with beautiful vibrant orange double flowers. Well-branched and compact, this annual plant with a neat habit offers abundant flowering throughout the summer. Its rapid growth and easy care make it an ideal choice for borders and containers. Sow it under cover at the end of winter or in spring.

Tagetes patula is a herbaceous annual plant of the asteraceae family, native to tropical regions of the Americas, from Mexico to Bolivia. It quickly forms a small bushy and branched, neat tuft, about 20 cm in all directions, covered in dark green, highly dissected, strongly aromatic foliage, whose smell may be unpleasant. Flowering occurs from June to September, if spent flowers are regularly removed. 'Petite Orange' produces magnificent double flower heads, over 6 cm in diameter, resembling pompoms. This plant readily self-seeds in the garden, but not always true to the mother variety.

French Marigolds are easy to sow and grow in well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. They brighten up summer beds with their generous flowering and intense colours, perfect to be softened by grey foliage like that of Artemisias and Stachys. Small golden grasses also complement them perfectly. To create contrasts, combine them with the blue flowers of perennial flaxes, salvias or Love-in-a-Mist. In the vegetable garden, pair Tagetes with Dahlias, Agastaches ,and Nasturtiums. Their edible flowers add a decorative touch to salads, cakes, and cocktails.

The strong smell of French Marigold foliage, and the substances secreted by their roots, repel some insects harmful to crops, which is why these plants are often placed among vegetables.