Marigold named Golden Gem #1
by J McCombie
Title
Marigold named Golden Gem #1
Artist
J McCombie
Medium
Photograph - Untouched
Description
This piece has been featured in the FAA Groups: "Insects - Garden Visitors", "BUGs BUGs and more BUGS", "Groovy Butterflies", and "Art for Close Ups And Macro Happy and Friendly".
No annual is more cheerful or easier to grow than marigolds. These flowers are the spendthrifts among annuals, showing a wealth of gold, copper, and brass into our summer and autumn gardens. The flower’s popularity probably derives in part from its ability to bloom brightly all summer long.
Tagetes tenuifolia. An intense citrus aroma fills the air when you brush by them along a path or in hanging baskets. Small single blooms make airy mounds above lacy foliage. Plant Signet Golden Gem marigold seeds in the spring and use the edible flowers in salads, desserts and fancy drinks. While all marigold flower petals are technically edible, Signet Golden Gem is by far the best-tasting marigold. As its colour might suggest, it has a faintly citrus flavour that actually enhances salads. Try them in salads, sandwiches or seafood dishes too. Golden Gem is slow to bloom so start early. Bright lemon-yellow blooms flower until heavy frost. Consider this marigold for xeriscaping, as it has good drought resistance. Height: 40cm (15″).
With it's strong scent, these beautiful little marigolds are also an excellent companion plant. Bugs don't like the smell, so these marigolds are excellent repellant plants in your garden. Dime size orange blooms cover the plants. They are also full of color, forming about 1 foot mounds of color, with lacy foliage.
Marigolds have daisy-like or double, carnation-like flowerheads and are produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, some marigolds we know come from just three:
Tagetes erecta are the tallest, at three to five feet. They are sometimes known as African or American marigolds.
Bushy T. patula, or French marigolds, are somewhat smaller and more compact. Elegant and eye-catching, they have relatively demure flowers and usually grow from 6 inches to 2 feet tall.
The dainty T. tenuifolia are the signet, or rock-garden, marigolds that like hot, dry sites and make a wonderful edging. Their flowers are edible.
Marigolds have been sterotyped but they offer tremendous variety; some have fantastic aroma; all marigolds are good in containers and provide long-lasting cut flowers.
In the late 1960s, Burpee president David Burpee launched an energetic campaign to have marigolds named the national flower, but in the end, roses won out.
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August 20th, 2018
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