Difference Between African Marigold and French Marigold
Table of Contents
When you start growing marigolds, you will probably come across two types: African marigolds and French marigolds. African Marigolds feature large flower heads with double rows of petals 2-5 inches wide. Depending on the kind, they can reach a 1-4 feet height. French Marigolds are a smaller marigold cultivar that grows to around 8 inches in height. They come in various hues, such as orange, yellow, gold, and bicolor.
African Marigold vs French Marigold
The difference between African Marigold and French Marigold is that African Marigolds are less ruffled and appear in a variety of colors, including rusty red, yellow, and orange. On the other hand, French marigolds are usually more ruffled and come in a variety of colors, including red, gold, orange, and yellow.
African marigolds are drought resilient once grown and thrive in hot summer conditions. African marigolds are rather simple to grow and maintain, despite their exotic appearance. These flowers are easy to grow, inexpensive, and have the added benefit of being edible! African marigolds are great for backyard gardeners who want to add a dash of color to their gardens but don’t have much money to spend on flowers.
French marigolds can be grown as a border along with your garden, as well as in pots and window boxes. They are easy to grow and care for. Sunlight is important for these flowers, so they should be planted in an area that receives full sun during the day. These marigolds are available in yellow, orange, red, and a few bicolors. They bloom from early summer to frost and tend to be less disease resistant than African marigolds.
Comparison Table Between African Marigold and French Marigold
| Parameters of Comparison | African Marigold | French Marigold |
| Definition | African marigolds are brightly colored kinds of huge sun-garden flowers. | French marigolds are daisy-like plants with smaller blooms than African marigolds. |
| Size | The blossoms of African marigolds are more significant, with a 5-inch diameter across the flower. | The blooms of the French marigold are more minor, having a diameter of 2 inches. |
| Season | Between mid-summer till frost, African marigolds bloom. | French marigolds bloom for a longer time than American marigolds, often from spring till frost. |
| Petals | African marigold petals are not as frilled as French marigold petals. | French marigold petals are frillier than African marigold petals. |
| Colour | Red, yellow, and orange are some of the hues of African marigolds. | French marigolds come in various colors, including yellow, gold, orange, and mahogany-red. |
What is African Marigold?
African Marigold is a favorite of gardeners because they are easy to grow, display their blooms in large masses, and bloom over a long season. Plant African marigolds in full sun and well-drained soil. The flowers will not thrive in wet or moist soil conditions.
African marigolds can tolerate dry conditions once established, but if the plant’s wilt, try watering them deeply to revive them. In extremely hot weather, the leaves of African marigolds may curl under or roll up to protect the plant from the heat, but the plants should rebound once the temperatures cool again.
They are also low maintenance, requiring regular deadheading (removal of spent flowers) and weekly weeding.
African marigold plants love tropical climates and thrive in hot, humid weather. However, they can still survive in cooler temperatures as long as there is plenty of sunlight throughout the day. Dark brown spots and leaves that turn yellow are signs that your African marigold isn’t getting enough sunlight. The soil should be well-drained and kept moist at all times for best results.
There are several different African marigolds available for purchase online or at your local garden center. The most common one is the giant African marigold (Tagetes erecta), which grows up to three feet tall and features single blooms that grow up to four inches across long stems.
What is French Marigold?
French marigolds are smaller than African marigolds and have more blooms. The plants are bushier, too. In addition to growing in flower beds, French marigolds are often seen in containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets.
French marigolds grow from eight to 24 inches tall with two-inch diameter blooms. The plants are easy to grow, do well in hot weather, and tolerate both drought and poor soil conditions. French marigolds need total sun exposure and moist but well-drained soil.
Plant French marigold seeds directly into the ground after the last frost of spring. Seeds germinate within 10 to 15 days under optimal conditions. However, the roots will not germinate if the soil temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or too wet. If you live in a cooler climate, start seeds indoors about four weeks before the last frost date for your area.
Because French marigolds prefer total sun exposure, choose a location that receives six to eight hours of sunlight each day. If you’re planting the flowers along a fence or wall, allow 12 inches between each plant for good air circulation and prevent fungal diseases from developing on foliage that is too dense.
Main Differences Between African Marigold and French Marigold
Conclusion
The difference between African Marigold and French Marigold is that the African Marigold, also known as the Aztec Marigold, is a smaller plant than the French marigold. African marigold doesn’t grow taller than 36 inches, and its flowers are red, yellow and orange. The French Marigold grows to 42 inches has flowers in various colors such as yellow, gold, orange, and red.
The French Marigold is a bushy plant with single or double flowers used for bedding plants, containers, and a border plant. The African Marigold is used mostly for religious purposes, especially around the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. It’s also grown as a cut flower and dried flower.
References
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