Our guide to some of the best marigold cultivars out there can help you find the right one for you – and any variety can do well in a container.
Alright, enough chit chat. Let’s jump right in!
The Best Cultivars for Container Growing
Like we said, any Tagetes species or cultivar will do well in a pot or planter so long as it has enough room to grow. Pick your favorite and have at it.
If you want a marigold that is just a little better suited to container life because of its size or growing requirements, pick one of the following:
Moonlight
‘Moonlight’ is an African marigold (T. erecta), but unlike many other cultivars of this species, it’s fairly compact. It grows to about 14 inches tall.
It’s also notably tolerant of drought once established, so if you forget to water yours one weekend, all will not be lost.
‘Moonlight’
You can purchase a small packet, an ounce, or a quarter-pound of seeds from Eden Brothers to bring a little moonlight to your garden.
Naughty Marietta
This French marigold (T. patula) has bright yellow petals with a dark maroon center, all wrapped up in a petite little package.
This pretty cultivar stays under 14 inches tall with a mounding growth habit that makes it perfect for the edges of a container full of taller plants, or as a focal point all on its own.
Cultivars of this species are also typically regarded as more tolerant of wet conditions than other varieties may be.
‘Naughty Marietta’
Eden Brothers carries small packets, one-ounce, and quarter-pound packages of ‘Naughty Marietta.’
Red Knight
Another single-flowered French marigold, ‘Red Knight’ adapts to its environment. In a pot, it stays a bit more compact at around a foot tall.
‘Red Knight’
The dark red flowers and yellow centers stand out against the deep green leaves.
Snap up packages of 500 seeds at Burpee.
Choosing the Right Container
These plants don’t have particularly deep or wide-spreading roots, so they don’t need a massive amount of space to survive. That said, a plant with restricted roots won’t grow as large as it would otherwise.
The required container size depends on the size of the plant you’re growing. A miniature French variety (T. patula) will need a lot less room than a massive Mexican marigold (T. erecta), unless you’re growing a dwarf cultivar.
Of course, you’ll also need a larger pot if you wish to grow several plants together.