Gardening Flowers Annuals How to Plant and Grow Signet Marigold This compact, easy-care annual gives you months of colorful bloom. By Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani is a gardening and food writer with more than two decades of hands-on gardening experience in vegetable and fruit gardening, landscaping with native plants, and garden design. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on November 15, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Companion Plants FAQ Trending Videos Close this video player Perhaps the least well-known type of marigold, signet marigold combines vibrant color and compactness. Mounds of lacy foliage and a mix of bright paprika, pumpkin orange, and lemon yellow-color blossoms lend it a delicate, refined appearance. It is just as easy to grow from seed and as long-flowering as the more common large marigold. Add this little wonder to containers or garden planting beds for months of easy-care color. Signet marigolds are also great companion planting because they won’t shade anything out. Some varieties give off a lemon scent when their foliage is bruised, which earned it the common name lemon marigold. The plant is mildly toxic to humans and pets. Signet Marigold Overview Genus Name Tagetes tenuifolia Common Name Signet Marigold Additional Common Names Lemon Marigold Plant Type Annual Light Sun Height 6 to 12 inches Width 8 to 12 inches Flower Color Orange, Red, Yellow Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom Special Features Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Propagation Seed Problem Solvers Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant Where to Plant Signet Marigold Select a location in full sun with well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. There are hundreds of landscape uses for this petite plant. Edge a narrow walkway with the bright blossoms of Signet marigold. Add several plants to a window box for ever-present color right outside your window. Pair it with African and French marigolds for a show of color from early summer until the first frost. Add a group of nectar-rich signets to a garden bed to attract butterflies. Or make signet marigolds part of a deer- and rabbit-resistant container garden. How and When to Plant Signet Marigold You can either start your own signet marigolds from seed or plant potted nursery transplants. Starting seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last expected frost gives you a head start on the growing season. Plant seeds 1 inch apart in a container of well-drained seed starting mix. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep and keep the soil moist until you are ready to transplant them outside. Once all danger of frost is past, it is also possible to sow seeds directly into well-worked garden soil. Space seeds 2 to 3 inches apart and plant them ¼ inch deep. Marigold seeds germinate quickly, so expect to see fine, grass-like foliage pop out of the ground about 7 days after planting. Thin or transplant seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart. Signet Marigold Care Tips Signet marigolds are easy to grow annual flowers that don't require much care. Light The plant needs at least 6 hours of full sun every day. Soil and Water Signet marigold grows in a wide range of soil types, including clay, but rich, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal. After the plant is established, it tolerates periods of drought. However, for the best bloom, it should be watered regularly in the absence of rain. Temperature and Humidity Like all marigolds, signet marigolds require warm weather and thrive in heat. The ideal germination temperature for the seeds is between 70 and 75 degrees F. Tender young plants should only be planted after the last frost date in the spring though mature plants at the end of the summer are able to survive a light frost. The plants are not bothered by high humidity. Fertilizer Fertilizing is not necessary—in-ground plants in rich, fertile soil are usually fine without it. If you decide to fertilize to boost flowering, use moderate amounts of all-purpose fertilizer, preferably at diluted strength. Excess nitrogen will produce leaves but few flowers. Pruning If plants become tall, lanky, and look bedraggled, cut them back by half their height, which encourages the growth of new foliage and blossoms. Potting and Repotting Signet Marigold Because of their compact size, signet marigolds make excellent container plants. Make sure the container has large drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting mix. Like all potted plants outdoors, signet marigolds need regular watering, especially when grown in hanging baskets, as they dry out even faster than standard pots. Repotting is not necessary as the plants conclude their life cycle with the first fall frosts. Pests and Problems The most common pests on signet marigolds are mites, which appear especially during hot weather. Other potential pests include tarnished plant bugs, leafhoppers, leafminers, and slugs. Possible plant diseases are botrytis blight, which occurs especially in wet weather, and leaf spots. Removing infected plant parts often helps to contain them. Aster fusarium wilt is a more serious fungal problem that might require you to remove and destroy the plant before it affects others. How to Propagate Signet Marigold Signet marigolds are propagated from seed as described in the planting instructions above. If you would like to collect the seeds from your plant, make sure it is an open-pollinated variety (most seed companies provide this information in their catalogs) because only those seeds will produce plants that are true to the parent. Types of Signet Marigold ‘Starfire Mix’ This is a multicolor dwarf variety with single flowers of orange, lemon, maroon, and gold. The compact, 12-inch mound-forming plant is a good choice for containers and hanging baskets. ‘Lemon Gem’ At about 10 inches tall, this long-blooming annual makes a great companion plant in the vegetable garden, adding color and attracting pollinators. It is covered with lots of brilliant, almost glowing yellow flowers all summer. The flowers have a citrus scent. ‘Tangerine Gem’ The edible petals of this small, bright, prolific bloomer look great as a garnish on salads and other summer dishes. The plant produces tons of single blooms with a plant height of about 10 inches. ‘Red Gem’ If you associate marigolds mostly with orange or yellow color schemes, here is a variety that stands out. It produces an abundance of crimson-colored flowers. The compact plants reach only 6 to 12 inches in height and the lacy foliage has a citrus scent. Signet Marigold Companion Plants Zinnia One of the toughest annuals you can plant, zinnias are also a favorite with pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. While tall zinnias suit cottage and cutting gardens, their lower-growing, mounding or spreading varieties work well in containers. Just like signet marigolds, they are able to handle periods of drought. Nasturtium Nasturtium is a fast-growing annual with pretty, lotus-like leaves. Some varieties have variegated leaves marked with white or cream. Cultivars are mounding, some are trailing, and others are climbers. The edible flowers come in a range of warm colors from creamy yellow to bright red. Cosmos With its saucer-shaped pink, magenta, or white flowers and bright green, feathery foliage, cosmos is one of the most popular annuals. It is a day-sensitive plant that blooms best in late summer when the days get shorter. There are more than 25 species of cosmos and numerous varieties and cultivars with single, semi-double, or double flowers, and in sizes ranging from dwarf to tall. Frequently Asked Questions Where do signet marigolds come from? The plant is native to Mexico, Central America, Columbia, and Peru. It was introduced to North America as early as 1798 under the name Mexican marigold. Are signet marigolds annual or perennial? Botanially they are perennial plants but only make it through the winter in warm climates similar to their native habitats in Central and South America. Most gardeners grow signet marigolds as annuals. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Tagetes tenufolia. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.