Kee's Orange Marigold is a spectacular African marigold bred by the late Kees Sahin, a renowned Dutch flower breeder who dedicated himself to creating the most vivid orange imaginable. The result is a high-octane tangerine bloom that absolutely commands attention in any garden. These towering annuals reach 20 to 30 inches tall and flower in just 65 to 75 days, delivering massive, magnificent blooms that work equally well as garden spectacle and in the kitchen.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
?in H x ?in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
This heirloom variety glows with an intense tangerine color so vibrant it practically jumps off the plant, the direct result of Kees Sahin's obsessive selection work. Growing to an impressive 20 to 30 inches tall, Kee's Orange produces abundant massive blooms that reward full sun placement with relentless flowering. Rapid maturity at 65 to 75 days means you can sow in spring and enjoy weeks of peak color by midsummer.
Gardeners grow Kee's Orange Marigold primarily for its stunning visual impact in flower beds and borders, where the intense tangerine color creates dramatic focal points. The variety also has kitchen applications, making it equally valuable to cooks and florists seeking color and form for culinary garnishes and arrangements.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep soil moist, and expect germination in 5 to 10 days. Maintain warm conditions around 70 to 75°F for fastest sprouting.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and all danger of cold has passed. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart in full sun.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date and soil has warmed. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and thin seedlings to 10 to 12 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season and maintain the plant's appearance.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Kee's Orange Marigold carries the imprint of one man's singular vision. Kees Sahin, a celebrated Dutch flower breeder, set out with a very specific goal: to select and perfect an African marigold with the most vivid, memorable orange color possible. Rather than accepting what nature offered, Sahin methodically bred successive generations, chasing that elusive high-octane tangerine hue until he achieved something genuinely spectacular. His dedication created a variety that bears his name and legacy, passed down today through seed savers and heirloom gardeners who recognize that this orange is worth growing.”