Marigolds bring dependable, sunny color to the garden all season long, their pungent scent doing double duty as a natural deterrent for several common garden pests.
Native to Mexico and Central America, marigolds have become one of the most popular annual bedding plants worldwide, prized for their easy care and long bloom time. They're a classic companion plant in vegetable gardens, often planted alongside tomatoes and other crops.
Marigolds symbolize warmth, creativity, and remembrance, playing a central role in Mexico's Día de los Muertos celebrations, where their bright color and scent are believed to help guide spirits home.
Marigolds want full sun and average, well-draining soil, thriving with minimal care and tolerating heat and dry spells well. Deadheading regularly keeps blooms coming through the season, and direct-sowing after the last frost is an easy, reliable way to start them.
Calendula, sometimes called pot marigold, has a long history of use in herbal salves and remedies for skin healing, though this is a distinct genus from the common garden marigold most people plant for pest control and color.
