There are two species of marigold. They are Tagetes erecta (African marigold) and Tagetes patula (French marigold). The African marigold plant is hardy, annual and grows 90 cm tall, erect and branched. Plant leaves are pinnately divided and leaflets are lanceolate and serrated. Flowers are single to fully double with large globular heads and the florets are either 2-lipped or quilled. Flower color changes from lemon yellow to yellow, golden yellow or orange.
The French marigold plant is a hardy annual grows to about 30 cm tall, forming a bushy plant. Foliage is the dark green color with the reddish stem. Plant leaves are pinnately divided and leaflets are linear, lanceolate and serrated. These flowers are small, either single or double borne on proportionately long peduncles. The flower color changes from yellow to mahogany red.
