Marigold Naughty Marietta

Tagetes patula ‘Naughty Marietta’ is a charming and compact French marigold, much loved for its bright golden-yellow blooms marked with deep mahogany-red blotches. This cheerful bicolour effect makes it a standout in borders, containers and edging, where its vibrant hues bring warmth and contrast to summer gardens. The finely divided foliage adds a soft, ferny texture, and the plant’s neat, bushy habit—typically growing to 30–40 cm tall—makes it ideal for small spaces and mass plantings.

Beyond its ornamental value, ‘Naughty Marietta’ also plays a useful role in companion planting. Its strong scent helps to repel pests such as whiteflies, aphids, and nematodes, making it a natural partner for vegetable gardens and herb beds.

For home gardeners, marigolds are easy to grow from seed. In New Zealand, sow indoors from August to October for early flowering, or direct sow in October to November once the risk of frost has passed.

Transplant seedlings when they have 2–3 true leaves, spacing them 20–25 cm apart in full sun. Marigolds prefer well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant once established. Regular deadheading encourages more blooms.