Where to Buy Marigold Plants: The Best Places for Vibrant, Colorful Blooms

Marigolds are one of the most popular annual flowers for gardens. Their bright, cheerful blooms come in a rainbow of colors like yellow, orange, red, and multi-colors. Marigolds are easy to grow, bloom continuously from spring to fall, and attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. If you want to add instant color to your garden or containers, marigolds are a great choice. But where can you find good quality marigold plants to purchase? Here are the best places to buy marigold plants for gorgeous, long-lasting color.

The Home Depot

One of the most reliable sources for marigold plants is your local Home Depot garden center. The Home Depot carries high quality marigold plants from top growers like Pure Beauty Farms and Metrolina Greenhouses You’ll find over 15 varieties of marigolds at The Home Depot in popular sizes like 4.5 inch pots, 1 gallon pots, 2 quart pots, and 3.2 quart grower’s pots.

The Home Depot offers common marigold varieties like French marigolds with crested blooms in yellow, orange, red, and multi-colors. They also carry larger African marigolds in bold sunset hues. Prices range from $1.98 for a 4.5 inch pot to $23.98 for a 3.2 quart size. The Home Depot has new shipments of marigold plants arriving regularly, so you’re likely to find a good selection in stores during peak planting season.

Lowe’s

Another home improvement chain that sells marigolds is Lowe’s Head to your local Lowe’s garden shop and you’ll discover marigold plants sold in multipacks and trays for convenient planting Choose from French marigolds, African marigolds, signet marigolds with edible flowers, and dwarf varieties perfect for containers. Lowe’s offers marigolds in both individual pots and tray packs of 6, 9, or 18 plants.

Look for their exclusive Flower Festival marigolds in yellow, orange, and mixed colors. Prices start at $5 for a 6 pack of plants. One advantage of buying marigolds at Lowe’s is their inventory guarantee – if a particular plant is out of stock, they’ll issue you a raincheck so you can purchase it later at the sale price.

Walmart

Stop by the garden center at your local Walmart and you’re likely to find marigolds for sale. Walmart sells marigolds in individual 4 inch pots and in tray packs of 3, 6, or 9 plants. Choose from varieties like Safari orange or yellow marigolds, French marigolds, or dwarf marigolds under 1 foot tall. Prices are very affordable, starting at $3 for a 4 inch potted marigold.

One tip for buying marigolds at Walmart – check them carefully for good health and avoid plants that look leggy or wilted. Walmart’s plant quality can be inconsistent compared to nurseries and garden centers. But with some inspection, you can often find vigorous marigold plants ready for planting.

Local Nurseries

Independent local nurseries are a great place to shop for marigolds and other annual flowers. They offer a wide selection since they aren’t limited to certain vendor partnerships like big box stores. The staff at local nurseries also tend to be very knowledgeable about selecting plants. Describe the sun exposure, climate, and look you want, and they can recommend the best marigold varieties.

Some top local nurseries to check for marigolds are Armstrong Garden Centers in California, Petitti Garden Centers in Ohio, Glover Nursery in Florida, and Purple Porch Nursery in Pennsylvania. You’re likely to find unique marigold varieties you won’t see at the big chains. Nursery prices are often on par or slightly higher than Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Online Retailers

If you’re looking for a specific marigold variety that you can’t find locally, shopping with online plant retailers is a good option. Here are some recommended online sources for mail order marigolds:

• Burpee – Offers over 25 types of marigolds, including heirloom varieties. Free shipping on orders over $35.

• Breck’s – Large selection of marigolds sold in value packs of 12 or 36 plants. Free shipping on some orders.

• Territorial Seed Company – Specializes in unique and rare flower varieties, including marigolds.

• American Meadows – Sells potted marigolds ready to plant in the garden. $9.95 flat rate shipping.

• Eden Brothers – Wide range of marigold seeds available if you want to grow from seed.

Check plant hardiness zones when ordering online and time shipments so plants arrive when you’re ready to plant. With proper timing, you can get great results buying marigolds online.

When to Buy Marigolds

Timing is important when buying marigolds. Here are some tips on when to shop:

• Spring – Buy marigold 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost to grow transplants for transplanting outside later.

• Summer – Marigolds are readily available at most stores by late spring and early summer when garden planting season is in full swing.

• Fall – Shop for marigolds in late summer to early fall to plant a second crop for fall blooms.

Avoid buying marigolds too far in advance or they may become rootbound before you can plant them. Monitor weather forecasts and plant marigolds 1-2 weeks after the danger of frost has passed.

What to Look for When Buying Marigold Plants

When selecting healthy marigold plants, look for:

• Green foliage without wilting or yellowing
• Compact, bushy growth instead of leggy stems
• No evidence of pests, disease, mold, or damage
• Lots of flower buds ready to open up
• Good root establishment but not severely rootbound

Check that the marigold variety you choose matches the mature plant size for the space you have. Also confirm the sunlight levels needed match your garden’s light exposure before purchasing.

With proper selection and care, marigolds are easy to grow into vibrant garden features. Follow these tips on where to find quality marigolds, and you’ll have the best choices to start your landscape and container plantings off with a flourish of color.

Yes, marigolds can help deter some garden pests due to their strong scent, which is a natural insect repellent. Specifically, they are known to repel nematodes, whiteflies, aphids, and even larger pests like deer.