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Product Details
Product Details
It took 21 years and thousands of dollars to develop a white marigold that made its debut in 1975. By growing 'Kilimanjaro White', you become a part of the horticultural history and determination that led this seed to your very garden. An awe-inspiring color in the world of marigolds, these 2½" vanilla-white blossoms make a fabulous contrast in any garden and cut-flower arrangement. They have a lovely, sweet scent; different from other marigolds. Edible petals with a slightly bitter, citrusy/spice flavor make a pretty garnish on rice, salads, or desserts. Marigolds attract butterflies and are fairly drought tolerant.
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- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
Variety Info
Family: Asteraceae
Type: African Marigold (Learn more)
Native: Mexico and South America
Hardiness: Annual
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Period: Summer to frost
Plant Dimensions: 18" tall
Variety Info: 2"–3" creamy white blooms
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flower, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible Flower, Good for Containers
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–80°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date.
Sprouts in: 5–14 Days
Plant Seeds (Depth): ¼"
Space Seeds: A group of 3 seeds every 9"–12"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 9"–12"
- RobinVerified ReviewerRated 4 out of 5 starsSep 8, 2026No white but worth the wait!
I direct seeded after my seedlings failed so just started to get flowers in late August (zone4b) but even the huge non-flowering plants seemed to ward off pests in our tomato bed. I am so glad I didn’t plant in my white garden because for us, these were much more pale/light yellow than vanilla white but beautiful nonetheless. Beware if planting in your veg beds to plan space for plants that are enormous; 3-4 feet, bushy and now full of lovely creamy yellow blooms.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningSep 9, 2026Hey Robin,
We're so happy to hear that your Kilimanjaro White African Marigold Seeds ended up being such a success in your garden! It sounds like those huge, bushy plants were absolute powerhouses - especially with how they helped protect your tomato bed from pests. And those creamy yellow blooms sound absolutely gorgeous, even if they turned out to be more pale yellow than the vanilla white you were expecting.
I'd like to share a few fun facts about the "Vanilla White" in the Kilimanjaro White African Marigold. It refers to a soft, creamy off-white rather than a pure, bright white. Breeding this color was a major 21-year breakthrough, as marigolds naturally grow in yellow-to-orange hues. While the petals are a creamy vanilla-white, the flower's deep yellow center anthers and natural warm lighting (like shade) can make the bloom appear slightly yellow overall.
We appreciate your review, and we hope you enjoy growing this truly unique, groundbreaking variety! Keep on growing 🌻
- SophiaVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsAug 17, 2025Gigantic Marigold
This is my first time trying this type of Marigold. It grew so well and is very large. There are about 12 flowers on one plant-they are a beautiful orange . The Butterfly’s love them.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningAug 20, 2025Hey Sophia,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with our Kilimanjaro White African Marigold Seeds! We absolutely love hearing that this was your first time trying this variety and they grew so well for you - those gigantic blooms with 12 flowers on one plant sound incredible! It's wonderful that you're getting those beautiful orange colors and that the butterflies are loving them too - that's exactly the kind of garden magic we hope these beauties will deliver! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Lee K.Verified ReviewerRated 1 out of 5 starsAug 1, 2025Lemon Cream ?
I purchased the seeds for this marigold this spring(2025) and finally have blossoms. They are Lemon Cream colored vs white. In fact white is not a term I would related to these marigolds. One can always dream and hope.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningAug 26, 2025Hey Lee,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- KatieRated 1 out of 5 starsJul 24, 2025Didn't look like the picture
I struggled to get these established, they are much less hardy than french marigolds. But when they finally bloomed, it was small, single, quite ugly blooms with a large center. All the plants from the packet came out like this. I thought maybe bugs ate them, or they just didn't open all the way yet, but all the plants were like this, on all blooms all the way to seed.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningJul 25, 2025Hey Katie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Rob D.Verified BuyerRated 4 out of 5 starsNov 29, 20244 Stars
Zone 5b. I started the Kilimanjaro White African Marigold seeds indoors and then transplanted them to pots outside. The flowers start off almost neon green in color before turning more white. They produced flowers for a while, but the plants eventually died off after a couple months.
