French Marigold
Naughty Marietta is a spirited French marigold that brings vibrant energy to any garden with its cheerful bicolor blooms, deep red petals edged in bright golden yellow. This compact cultivar reaches just 8, 10 inches tall and flowers prolifically from summer through fall, earning its bloom-time reputation by producing flowers within 56, 70 days from seed. Despite its playful name and diminutive stature, it's a tough little plant that laughs at drought, resists deer browsing, and attracts pollinators while requiring nothing more than full sun and moderate water to thrive.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
10in H x 10in W
Annual
Moderate
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What makes Naughty Marietta stand out is its bold two-tone coloring, that striking combination of deep crimson centers with golden yellow edges creates real visual drama in garden beds and containers. The compact 8, 10 inch mound habit makes it perfect for edging, borders, or mixed plantings without demanding much space. Pair its drought tolerance and deer resistance with a generous blooming window from June through November, and you have a variety that keeps working for you from summer heat through fall frost. This heirloom marigold is also a pollinator magnet, drawing bees and beneficial insects all season long.
Naughty Marietta thrives as a garden ornamental, bringing continuous color to flower borders, edge plantings, and container arrangements throughout the warm months. Its compact size and prolific blooming habit make it especially valuable for adding concentrated bursts of color to mixed beds without overwhelming neighboring plants.
Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil at 65–75°F and maintain consistent moisture. Seeds should sprout in 4–14 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed and plants are sturdy enough to handle.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after your last frost date.
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