Tagetes patula Linnaeus Burning Embers | French Marigold | Height - 70 cm

Tagetes patula ‘Burning Embers’ | French Marigold

Tagetes patula ‘Burning Embers’ is a well-known, compact, bushy French marigold with rich, glowing red-orange blooms. It flowers continuously from early summer until autumn, with the first buds appearing just a few weeks after sowing, making it one of the fastest and most reliable annuals you can grow.

Because of its speed and resilience, this variety is a true backup plant for bare patches or failed sowings—even seeds sown in June will quickly bring color and life to the garden. Heat tolerant, easy-going, and long-flowering, it performs equally well in beds, borders, containers, and landscaping plantings.

Regular harvesting or deadheading keeps plants compact and flowering heavily. Flowers also have a good vase life and are suitable for herbal tea use.

Plant Details

• Botanical name: Tagetes patula
• Variety: Burning Embers
• Lifecycle: Half-hardy annual
• Height: approx. 60–70 cm
• Position: Full sun
• Soil: Any well-drained garden soil
• Heat tolerance: Excellent
• Vase life: 8–10 days
• Use: Bedding, containers, landscaping, cut flower, tea

Flowering

• Flowering period: June – October
• Days to bloom: approx. 70–80 days

Sowing & Germination

• Sowing method: Indoor or direct sow
• Sow indoors:
  • Surface sow onto moist, well-drained seed compost
  • Light aids germination; cover only lightly
• Temperature: 21–24 °C
• Germination:
• 5–14 days (often faster under ideal conditions)
• Direct sow:
  • From May
  • Keep soil moist until germinated

Planting & Care

• Plant spacing: 20–25 cm
• Transplant seedlings once large enough to handle
• Harden off and plant out after danger of frost
• Feeding: Not required
• Care: Very easy; thrives with minimal attention

Harvest & Maintenance

• Cut flowers or deadhead regularly to encourage continuous flowering
• Frequent cutting extends the blooming window significantly