FlowerMarigold
Cracker Jack African Marigold
Cracker Jack African Marigold is an AAS award-winning annual that transforms any garden with vibrant golden orange and yellow blooms reaching up to 36 inches tall. These sturdy, bushy plants produce brilliant 3-5 inch flowers that have made them a floral shop favorite for decades. Hardy across zones 3-11 and reaching maturity in 70-79 days, Cracker Jack thrives in full sun and brings the dependable, cheerful energy of classic African marigolds to porches, patios, and garden beds. The open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds grow reliable plants year after year, making this a variety worth saving.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Moderately Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
12
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Those 3-5 inch blooms in golden orange and yellow are genuinely stunning, and they appear reliably on compact 24-36 inch plants that don't sprawl or demand constant fussing. The AAS award recognition isn't just marketing; Cracker Jack earned it through consistent performance and that particular brilliance of color that makes it a staple in professional floral arrangements. For gardeners who want big impact without drama, this variety delivers the goods in 70-79 days flat.
Common Uses
Cracker Jack African Marigolds are grown primarily as ornamentals for cutting and garden display. Their substantial 3-5 inch blooms and sturdy stems make them favored by florists and flower arrangers seeking reliable, long-lasting cut flowers. In the garden, they function as dependable color sources for beds, borders, and containers, thriving in full sun locations where their golden orange and yellow tones can shine.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds on the surface or just barely covered, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil warm (70-75°F) and moist until seedlings emerge in 5-10 days. Provide bright light once sprouted to prevent legginess.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant after your last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. Water gently at transplanting and keep evenly moist for the first week.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after your last frost date and soil has warmed. Sow seeds on the soil surface and press lightly to ensure contact. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Pruning
Deadhead spent flowers regularly throughout the season to encourage continuous blooming and maintain a tidy bush shape. Pinching back young plants when they reach 6 inches tall will encourage branching and a fuller, more compact form.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Tagetes erecta
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Tagetes
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Cracker Jack represents the enduring legacy of African marigold breeding in horticulture. Tagetes erecta, the African marigold species, has been cultivated and refined for generations, and Cracker Jack emerged as a standout cultivar that combined reliable height, flower size, and that distinctive color palette that made it attractive to both home gardeners and commercial growers. Its AAS award status reflects decades of horticultural selection focused on performance and visual impact.”