The 5 Best Marigolds to Grow in Your Vegetable Garden

As an avid gardener, I’m always looking for ways to make my vegetable garden as productive as possible. One of my favorite tricks is planting marigolds throughout my veggie beds. Not only do these cheerful flowers add a pop of color, they also help deter pests and attract beneficial insects.

After years of testing different varieties, I’ve landed on 5 marigolds that I think work best in vegetable gardens. Keep reading to learn why I recommend these varieties and how to incorporate them into your own edible garden.

1. French Marigold (Tagetes patula)

French marigolds are my go-to for interplanting with vegetables. These bushy annuals grow just 1 to 2 feet tall, so they don’t overshadow other plants. The flowers come in a range of bright colors like yellow, orange, burgundy, and multi-tones.

I like to tuck French marigolds throughout my veggie beds. Their strong scent helps mask the odor of tomato plants and other crops, confusing pests. Plus, they attract hoverflies, lacewings, and ladybugs that prey on harmful insects like aphids.

Some of my favorite French marigold varieties for the vegetable garden include:

• Petite Harmony: A dwarf variety that only reaches 6-10 inches tall. It works well for edging beds.

• Disco Produces loads of large, lemon-yellow blooms with a subtle citrus scent. Great for borders.

• Queen Sophia: Deep orange, fully double flowers on compact 10-inch plants. Looks beautiful next to veggies.

2. Signet Marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)

Compared to French marigolds, signet marigolds have finer foliage and delicate single blooms. They are much less bushy, with an airy, open habit that makes them great companion plants for shade-loving vegetables like lettuce and spinach

Signet marigolds have a distinct lemon scent when you brush against the leaves and flowers. Like French marigolds, this helps repel nuisance pests. Many signet varieties also have edible flowers, so you can add the petals to salads or as a garnish.

Two of my favorite signet marigolds for veggie beds include:

• Lemon Gem: Prolific small yellow blooms and bright green ferny foliage. Grows 10-12 inches tall.

• Red Gem: Deep red single flowers stand out against the fine, lacy leaves. Also stays under 12 inches tall.

3. African Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Now for something completely different: African marigolds. Get ready for giant, fully double flowers up to 5 inches across! These stalwart annuals can tower up to 3 feet tall. I use them as striking backdrop plants along the back of my vegetable garden.

African marigolds pump out huge flowers continuously through the season. The bold colors and carnation-like blooms look exotic and attract loads of pollinators. Some varieties like Crackerjack are extra fragrant, which further discourages pests.

A few of my top picks for African marigolds in the veggie garden:

• Inca II Yellow: Buttery yellow 3-4 inch blooms. Grows 24-30 inches tall.

• Jupiter: Brilliant orange flowers on 30-inch plants. Blooms earlier than other varieties.

• Antigua: Colors range from bright yellow to burnt orange. Great cut flowers too!

4. Mexican Marigold Mint (Tagetes lucida)

Here’s a marigold variety that serves double duty as an insect repellent and culinary herb. Mexican marigold mint is a perennial in warm climates (zones 8-10) but you can grow it as an annual in cooler areas.

The lacy, aromatic leaves taste like anise with a hint of mint. They are delicious added to salads, soups, and sauces. The yellow flowers are edible too. Plus, Mexican marigold mint helps deter aphids, whiteflies, and other pests.

I like to plant it around tomatoes, where it thrives in the same conditions. Or add it to herb gardens and pollinator gardens near the vegetable beds so it can still lend its insect-repelling powers. This versatile marigold reaches 2-3 feet tall.

5. Copper Canyon Daisy (Tagetes lemmonii)

Copper canyon daisy is often sold as a decorative perennial, but I think it’s an underrated edible landscape plant. It shares the same insect-repelling qualities of other marigolds. The difference is it comes back year after year in warm climates (zones 8-10).

This Southwest native has striking yellow daisy flowers and lacy, aromatic foliage. The whole plant only grows about 2 feet tall and wide, making it a great border plant for veggie beds.

While technically edible, copper canyon daisy has a strong, bitter taste. I don’t eat it but I appreciate that it helps shield my vegetables from pests! Its long bloom season also attracts many pollinators.

That sums up my top marigold picks for vegetable gardens! Let some of these colorful companions help boost your garden productivity and fend off insect pests. A few well-placed marigolds can make all the difference.