Signet Marigold Starfire Seeds - Tagetes tenuifolia

Signet marigold 'Starfire' is a richly coloured selection, ranging in colour from lemon yellow to mahogany red. It forms neat, rounded cushions of light, feathery leaves that are smothered in small, shiny single flowers from summer until the first frosts. Unfazed by grey, rainy weather, it is ideal for highlighting the edges of pathways or lawns. It is also suitable for growing in pots and containers.

Tagetes tenuifolia, commonly known as Signet marigold, is a tender herbaceous annual that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is native to the valleys of South America where it occurs naturally on dry, hot, rocky slopes. It is not cold hardy and is generally treated as an annual in colder climates. 'Starfire' quickly forms tidy, bushy clumps, about 20 cm tall and wide. They are covered with bright green, finely divided leaves that are mildly scented. The flowering period lasts from late June to October, providing spent flowers are removed regularly. This variety features single flowerheads that measure 2-3 cm in diameter. They are composed of 5 wide ray flowers that range in colour from lemon yellow, to bronze, coppery orange or mahogany red. They are arranged around a central golden yellow to orange disc. Signet marigolds self-seed easily however they are not always true to type.

Signet marigolds are star plants in summer flower beds. Brightly coloured and cheerful with a tidy habit, easy to grow and floriferous, they are ideal for borders and window boxes. They can be planted in small patches alongside grey-leaved mugwort and stachys, green-leaved tansies or Kochia Childsii, or small ornamental grasses which will soften their flamboyant colours. Their orange, yellow or red blooms mix well with blue-flowering catmints or perennial flax. Signet marigolds can be also be used in potpourris, for their rather pungent lemony scent.

Good to know: Tagetes tenuifolia has intensely aromatic leaves and the substances secreted by their roots repel various harmful insects, making them an excellent companion plant in the vegetable garden. Tagetes tenuifolia was once used by the Mayas of Guatemala for its medicinal properties, particularly for relieving upset stomachs. However, it should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.