Botanical Interests
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Product Details
Product Details
Every gardener will delight in these adorable, sunny yellow flowers on compact plants. 'Lemon Drop' adds a bright spot of color to the front of the bed, patio containers, and window boxes. In the vegetable garden, it takes up little room, and may reduce soil nematodes. French marigolds are edible, but with a very strong flavor similar to its pungent scent. Practically care-free and will self-sow if a few flowers are allowed to go to seed, providing welcome volunteers next season!
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- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
Variety Info
Family: Asteraceae
Type: French Marigold (Learn more)
Native: Mexico
Hardiness: Annual
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Period: Summer to frost
Plant Dimensions: 6"–12" tall
Variety Info: 1" lemon-yellow, double flowers.
Attributes: Cut Flower, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible Flower, Good for Containers, Rabbit Resistant
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 of 3 seeds every 6"
Thinning: When 1" tall thin to 1 every 6"
- Margaret V.CA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsMay 30, 2026I’m using it like another type of alyssum
I planted this in a quart bowl from my dishes, putting potting soil, 5 seeds, and some water on the sunny window sill. It was so cute. But later, I put it in a container that had survived the winter but the petunias grew leggy—to hide the dead 14th branches. Worked great. Then I took one of the plants (5 seeds made 5 plants, but I left them together to give more foliage), and put it in a 6 inch pot that had just 1 pink poker statice plant I had grown from seed in it. The statice foliage always dies out or has trouble. The marigold covered up the dead-looking statice foliage. I’m going to use this like alyssum, as a fast growing filler that covers a multitude of sins. It’s really really cute, too.```
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised BedEGEpic GardeningJun 3, 2026Hey Margaret,
What a creative and resourceful approach to gardening! I love how you've discovered the perfect way to use these Lemon Drop French Marigolds as a "filler with benefits" - that's such a smart gardening hack!
It sounds like you've really figured out their versatility, from that adorable quart bowl start on your windowsill to using them strategically to cover up those less-than-perfect spots in your containers. Five plants from five seeds is fantastic germination, and keeping them together for that fuller foliage effect was a brilliant move.
Your comparison to alyssum is spot-on - these marigolds really do make excellent fast-growing fillers that can transform a tired-looking container into something beautiful again. Plus, you get those lovely bright blooms as a bonus!
Thank you for sharing your innovative gardening solutions and for that wonderful 5-star rating! Your "covering a multitude of sins" approach is going to inspire so many fellow gardeners. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Margaret C. R.WY, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsApr 26, 2026Growing Great!
I sowed these seeds in two of Epic's 6-cell seed starting trays on 3/17. Germination rate was so good that on 4/6 I pricked out extra seedlings and I now have 4 dozen plants in 6-cell trays. Most of them have flower buds now (4/26) some of which should open within a week. Since I live in Zone 5b it will be at least 4 weeks until I can plant these outside. So far, I couldn't be happier with how well these are performing. The seedlings are sturdy and healthy. I'm looking forward to their cheery yellow flowers!
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? In GroundEGEpic GardeningMay 8, 2026Hey Margaret,
We love that you got such fantastic germination with our Lemon Drop French Marigold Seeds that you ended up with four dozen healthy plants - that's amazing! It sounds like you're going to have the most beautiful display of cheery yellow marigolds. Thanks for sharing your fantastic growing success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
- KVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsSep 14, 2025Love them!
These French marigolds, started inside, took awhile to recover from transplanted shock (yes, they were hardened off), but eventually they settled in, became huge and bloomed profusely!
Love them
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningSep 15, 2025Hey K,
That's so wonderful to hear! We absolutely love that your Lemon Drop French Marigolds bounced back and rewarded you with such incredible blooms!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and especially your photos, with us - it's always great to hear from gardeners who stick with their plants through those early adjustments and get to enjoy the amazing results!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- whitney g.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsMay 8, 20245 Stars
Beautiful marigolds. I planted them as a border to my raised beds, they stayed small like I had planned and they have lots of bright yellow blooms. Perfect for the summertime. ☀️
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate - Kathleen P.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsFeb 18, 20245 Stars
These are my favorite marigolds. The clear yellow color is like sunshine on a cloudy day. The photo shows my vegetable garden in mid-October, with the marigolds lighting the whole thing up. I plant them at the corners of the beds to attract pollinators, and just to make me happy.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate
