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Companion flower · Easy to grow

French marigold

Tagetes patula · also Marigold

The classic companion flower for the veggie patch. Bright, compact and easy, it flowers all summer and draws in hoverflies, whose larvae eat aphids. Tuck it beside tomatoes, capsicum and zucchini, and along bed edges.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Naughty MariettaGold petals with maroon centres; very free-flowering
  • Petite mixedCompact, about 20 cm; good for edges and pots

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    25 cm apart, seed 5 mm deep. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Water at the base when the top few centimetres are dry.

  3. Feed

    No extra feeding needed in a well-composted bed.

  4. Pick, from about 7 weeks

    Pick off spent flowers to keep it blooming; let a few go to seed to save.

Good to know

  • Plant one every metre or so through the bed, and on the corners
  • Hoverflies love the flowers, and their larvae eat aphids
  • Deadhead weekly for flowers right through to autumn

Common problems

  • Grey mould on spent flowers in humid weatherdeadhead often and space for airflow
  • Snails on young seedlingshand pick at night or use iron-based baits

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about french marigoldAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing french marigoldQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Wildlife

Good for: bees, butterflies, insects.

Safety: Sap can irritate skin and upset tummies if chewed; wash hands after handling.

Where this information comes from
  • Sustainable Gardening Australia: companion planting (companions, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia: companion planting fact sheets (growing, low confidence)
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Marigold (Tagetes) (toxicity, medium confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 28 Oct 2026. Version 1.