Bonanza Series French Marigolds are compact, prolific bloomers that earned an AAS Bedding Plant Award for their remarkable ability to deliver season-long color in conditions where other plants falter. These non-GMO annuals grow to just 8-12 inches tall and produce vibrant 2-inch flowers on tidy, bushy plants, making them equally at home in garden beds or indoor containers. From seed to bloom in 50-59 days, they thrive across hardiness zones 3-11 and handle full sun without flinching, rewarding gardeners with consistent, reliable performance.
12
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
12in H x ?in W
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High
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These marigolds earned their AAS award by combining hardiness with prolific blooming in a genuinely compact form. At 8-12 inches with full, 2-inch flowers, Bonanza Series plants stay neat and proportioned without constant deadheading, yet they flower continuously from summer through frost. What makes them stand out is their proven ability to succeed where heat, poor soil, or neglect would defeat lesser plants, backed by the hardiness that lets you grow them from zone 3 all the way to zone 11.
Bonanza Series French Marigolds shine in ornamental garden settings where their compact, tidy form and abundant blooms make them ideal for edging, mass plantings, and color blocks. Their modest 8-12 inch height suits them to containers and raised beds, and they're compact enough for indoor gardening in bright windows. As ornamental flowers with no culinary use, they're grown purely for their visual impact and the season-long color display they provide.
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Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds on the surface of moist seed-starting mix or barely press them into the medium, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil temperature around 70-75°F and maintain consistent moisture. Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days and are ready to transplant to larger containers when they develop their first true leaves.
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Space plants 12 inches apart with 24 inches between rows. They'll begin flowering within 50-59 days of transplanting.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed. Sow seeds on the soil surface in full sun, pressing them gently into contact with soil. Water lightly and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart once they've developed their first true leaves.
Deadheading spent flowers throughout the season encourages continuous blooming, though Bonanza Series marigolds will flower abundantly even without it. Pinch back young seedlings when they're 3-4 inches tall to encourage bushier, more compact growth and fuller flower production. No heavy pruning is necessary due to the variety's naturally tidy, compact growth habit.
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“Bonanza Series French Marigolds represent modern breeding aimed at creating a marigold that performs reliably across diverse growing conditions and climates. The variety was developed as a bedding plant cultivar, earning an All-America Selections (AAS) Bedding Plant Award for its distinctive compact growth habit and abundant flowering. The AAS recognition specifically highlighted the series' 'unique design' and consistent 'season-long flower color,' marking it as a deliberate achievement in breeding for both ornamental appeal and garden performance rather than a chance discovery or heirloom selection.”