Looking for the best marigolds to plant for big, long-lasting color in your flowerbeds, containers and gardens this year?
Marigolds are becoming more popular than ever before – and for all the right reasons! The annual flower is easy to plant, easy to grow, and full of incredible color. It also helps pollinators and actually works to help keep pests away in the garden.
It truly is hard to beat marigolds. In fact, they might just be one of the most useful flowers you can grow anywhere around your landscape!

They are beautiful, tough, durable, and one of the most beginner-friendly flowers around. Even better, they grow incredibly well directly from seed. And that means you can fill your flowerbeds and vegetable garden with color for very little cost!
The 3 Best Marigolds To Plant In Your Flowerbeds
Even More Reason To Love Marigolds
Marigolds have been loved for generations for good reason. They bloom heavily, they handle heat well, and they can thrive in many different areas and conditions. They also come in wonderful shapes, sizes, and colors, from giant fluffy blooms to smaller, compact flower heads.
But beyond looking beautiful, marigolds offer real working benefits too. Their bright blooms attract bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators to your garden. At the same time, their strong scent is known to help deter certain pests and insects such as aphids and even deer and rabbits in some locations.
All of that makes them an almost perfect plant for both flowerbeds and vegetable gardens. Especially when you pick marigold varieties that bloom in massive numbers all season long.
With that in mind, here is a detailed look at three of the very best marigolds you can plant this year to enjoy huge color, strong performance, and big benefits in your flowerbeds and garden: Crackerjack African Marigolds, French Sparky Marigolds, and White Swan Marigolds!
Crackerjack African Marigolds – Big, Bold, And Absolutely Stunning To Plant
If you want big, dramatic blooms that you can see from across the yard, Crackerjack African Marigolds are the go-to choice.
These marigolds are famous for their large, fluffy, and vibrant flowers that can easily reach four inches across. The blooms look almost like giant garden ornaments sitting on top of sturdy stems. Affiliate Link: Crackerjack African Marigold Seeds
Crackerjack marigolds come in warm, rich colors like bright orange, sunny yellow, and gold that stand out beautifully against green foliage. They are incredible for creating a bold focal point in the landscape. Plant them in mass plantings, along walkways, or in wide flowerbeds, and you will have a huge splash of color all summer long.
Even though they look dramatic and impressive, Crackerjack marigolds are still as easy to grow as any other marigold variety. They can be planted directly from seed into the ground and will quickly grow into strong, bushy plants. They love sunshine, handle hot weather with ease, and bloom from early summer right up until frost.
Because of their large size and strong presence, they also work wonderfully in vegetable gardens when planted at the end of rows or as border plants. They can help attract pollinators, discourage pests, and add a pop of color to what is often a mostly green garden space.
If you want a marigold that delivers dramatic beauty and powerful performance, Crackerjack African Marigolds are hard to beat!
French Sparky – Compact, Colorful, And Perfect For Edging
If Crackerjack marigolds are known for being big and bold, French Sparky Marigolds are known for being charming, compact, and incredibly productive bloomers. These smaller marigolds are perfect for the front of flowerbeds, along garden borders, or planted thickly in mass for a carpet of color. Affiliate Link: French Marigold Sparky Mix Seeds

French Sparky typically grow lower and bushier, making them ideal for edging pathways, filling containers, or lining raised beds and vegetable garden rows. Their blooms are smaller than African marigolds but incredibly detailed and eye-catching.
They often feature beautiful bi-color petals, fiery oranges mixed with deep reds and yellows, and striking patterns that make each plant feel unique.
Just like other marigolds, French Sparky varieties are very easy to grow from seed. They germinate quickly, require very little care, and bloom heavily throughout the season. Once they begin blooming, they rarely stop, constantly replacing old flowers with fresh new blooms.
They are also excellent for pest control in vegetable gardens. Their strong aroma helps repel pests, and their compact size makes them perfect for planting between vegetables without crowding them out. If you want a marigold that brings loads of bright, cheerful color in a smaller, tidy package, French Sparky Marigolds are a wonderful choice.
Listen To Our Podcast On How Great Marigolds Can Be For Your Garden & Flowerbeds!
White Swan Marigolds – Elegant, Unique, And Perfect For Something Different!
When most people think of planting marigolds, they picture bright orange and yellow blooms. That is exactly why White Swan Marigolds are so special. They bring a completely different look to the marigold world with their soft, creamy white to pale vanilla blooms that almost glow in the garden.
White Swan Marigolds provide a beautiful, elegant contrast to traditional marigold varieties. Their blooms are fluffy and full, similar to African marigolds, but their lighter coloring gives them a softer, more refined look. Affiliate Link: Park Seed White Swan Marigold Flower Seeds
They are perfect for gardeners who love marigolds but want something more unusual or sophisticated in their flowerbeds.
White Swan pair wonderfully with darker flowers, deep greens, and colorful vegetables. They can brighten shady garden edges, soften bold color schemes, and create a calming, relaxing feel in the landscape. And just like the other varieties, they are simple to grow from seed, dependable in the heat, and loved by pollinators.

Even better, they still carry the wonderful pest-repelling qualities marigolds are known for. You get beauty, usefulness, and reliability all in one unique marigold variety.
Here is to planting a few of the best and brightest marigolds this year. And to adding big color and pollinating power to your landscape! For another great marigold variety, check out our article: Why You Should Plant French Marigolds In Your Garden.
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