Marsh marigolds have several lookalikes, and some of these lovely fast-growing plants can be harmful and invasive. It’s good to know the difference.
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Marsh marigold plants, or Caltha palustris, are native throughout much of the United States. Large numbers of the flower can be seen in bloom in early spring. Though its common name is often a source of confusion, marsh plants are not related to other popular garden varieties of marigold, such as Calendula and Tagetes types. Other very similar imposters can be found growing wild.
Swamp marigolds are best known for their glossy, heart-like foliage and bright flowers. Under ideal conditions, short-statured plants will multiply to form expansive colonies. As their name indicates, marsh flowers are most likely to be found growing where soils remain consistently moist. This includes swamps, along ditches, near rivers, and in other low-lying areas.
As with many of their most common lookalikes, marsh marigold plants are considered toxic. Below, we will explore several species that are frequently mistaken for the plant, and examine how to identify each in greater detail.
Marigolds are a popular annual flower known for their cheerful golden blooms that brighten gardens all summer long But did you know there are many other plants that resemble marigolds?
With similar colors and flower shapes, these marigold lookalikes can make great additions or substitutes in your landscape. Keep reading to discover 14 of the best plants that can stand in for marigolds.
Why Consider Marigold Lookalike Plants
Here are some of the benefits of growing marigold mimics
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Add new colors – While marigolds stick to orange, yellow, red and white, lookalikes introduce fresh hues like purple, pink and blue.
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Lower maintenance – Some alternatives like coreopsis are perennials, avoiding the need to replant marigolds each year. Others self-sow readily.
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Attract pollinators – With their bright, nectar-filled blooms, many marigold mimics draw in butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
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Complement marigolds – Interplanting lookalikes creates vibrant color combinations and extended seasons of bloom.
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Replace marigolds – If marigolds struggle in your climate or you want to try something new, substitute similar sun-loving blooms.
14 Top Marigold Lookalike Plants
1. Pot Marigold
With flowers in warm yellows and oranges, pot marigolds look a lot like French or African marigolds. Their blooms are a bit larger and have a more open, daisy-like shape. These hardy annuals happily reseed in the garden.
2. Zinnia
A favorite for cut flower gardens, zinnias come in almost every color including marigold hues of red, orange, yellow and white. Their shaggy, layered petals give zinnias a casual, playful look. These fast-growing annuals are easy to grow from seed.
3. Black-eyed Susan
Native wildflowers in many regions, black-eyed Susans are known for their golden petals surrounding a dark central cone, much like a marigold’s color pattern. These rugged perennials thrive in heat, drought, and poor soils.
4. Garden Mum
Available in marigold shades of orange, red, burgundy, yellow and white, fluffy, fully double mums almost look like shaggy marigolds. Plant these herbaceous perennials in fall for late season color as other blooms fade.
5. Mexican Sunflower
With bold 3-4 inch orange and yellow blooms, Mexican sunflowers make a big splash in the garden. Their large daisy flowers on bushy annual plants resemble oversized marigolds. Grow these heat lovers from seed planted directly in the garden after frost danger passes.
6. Coreopsis
Also called tickseed, coreopsis produces abundant flowers resembling marigolds in yellow, gold, orange and red hues. Its daisy-like single or double blooms have dark centers and fine, threadlike foliage. Grow these short-lived perennials from seed or nursery starts.
7. Yarrow
Look for yellow and orange varieties of yarrow to get a marigold look. Yarrow’s clusters of tiny blooms top ferny mounds of aromatic foliage. These tough perennial wildflowers thrive in hot, dry conditions.
8. Cosmos
A cottage garden classic, cosmos bears airy, delicate foliage and abundant daisy blooms in orange and yellow shades reminiscent of marigolds. Direct sow the fast-growing annual seeds right where you want it to grow and bloom.
9. Tithonia
Sometimes called Mexican sunflower, tithonia offers huge 4-6 inch bright orange flowers that cannot be ignored. The oversized blooms are like giant marigolds on bushy annual plants. Grow tithonia from seed after the soil has warmed up.
10. Gerbera Daisy
In warmer climates and indoors, gerbera daisies bloom continuously in many colors, including marigold-like shades of orange, red and yellow. Their large, showy blooms have a similar layered petal look. Grow these perennials in beds or containers.
11. Gazania
With its marigold coloring and creeping habit, gazania makes a great substitute for marigolds as a heat and drought tolerant flowering ground cover. Blooms appear in spring and summer. Plant this perennial by seed or division.
12. Goldenrod
Brightening fall gardens, goldenrod lives up to its name with plumes of tiny golden yellow flowers. Seek out clump-forming varieties under 2 feet tall for borders and containers. These tough perennial wildflowers need minimal care.
13. Signet Marigold
Much smaller than French or African marigolds, signet marigolds produce delicate single blooms in warm yellow, orange and red hues with a subtle citrusy scent. Their mounded form works nicely along walkways edging and in container plantings.
14. Mexican Heather
In warmer zones, this shrubby perennial flowers nearly year-round with small purple, white or pink blooms reminiscent of petite marigolds. Mexican heather thrives in hot, dry conditions with very little watering or care needed.
Tips for Using Marigold Mimics
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Match bloom periods and growing conditions when substituting marigold lookalikes in your landscape
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Use bold colors like orange or red flowers for contrast against cool pastels and silver foliage
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Underplant taller marigold alternatives like cosmos and sunflowers with low growers like portulaca and gazania
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Highlight beds, borders and entries using bright marigold lookalikes like zinnias and coreopsis
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Mix heights, forms and textures for interest by combining spiky yarrow, mounding zinnias and trailing vines
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Don’t forget true marigolds – pair your new mimics with classic marigolds for coordinated, extended flower power
With their similarities in form and color, plants that resemble marigolds can make excellent substitutes while also expanding your garden palette. Try marigold lookalikes like zinnias, pot marigolds and black-eyed Susans to enjoy continuous blooms in vibrant sunset hues.
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Both Ranunculus acris and swamp marigold are true species of buttercup. Still, several characteristics can be used to differentiate between the two. Though both will produce bright yellow blooms, the plants’ appearance and overall growth habit are not alike in a variety of ways. Also known as meadow buttercup, acris types will produce mounds of toothy, fern-like foliage. The arrival of spring marks the production of flowers held above tall, wiry stems, which are of notable difference to marsh species. These toxic plants are often considered invasive, and may require the use of chemical or manual means to control populations.
Identifying the Most Common Marsh Marigold Lookalikes
Also known as “green and gold,” Chrysogonum virginianum is a perennial native plant, hardy to USDA zones 5-9. Green and gold is commonly used in the home landscape, more specifically, as a ground cover. These plants thrive in beds that drain well, and are shaded throughout the hottest parts of the day. Within their native range, Chrysogonum virginianum is most likely to be found growing in clearings or near woodlands.
Though swamp marigold plants can spread, they are not considered invasive in most regions. The same cannot be said for Ficaria verna, or lesser celandine. Established plants multiply quickly, growing to form dense, matted tangles that overtake or choke less vigorous native species. Lesser celandine foliage does resemble that of marsh marigold, though the flowers will differ slightly. Experts advise against the use of this plant in the home landscape, as it is easily able to escape beds and borders.
Also known as Appalachian avens, Geum radiatum is native to very specific regions of the United States. These plants are most commonly found growing near cliffs or rocky areas along mountaintops. In recent years, the species has become increasingly rare, and is considered to be endangered in most regions.
Another common native plant, Hypoxis hirsuta is a low-growing flower, frequently found in fields and near partially wooded areas. Short, grass-like foliage is likely to go unnoticed until the plant begins to flower. At this time, each produces yellow star-like blooms that are highly attractive to pollinators. Though the plant may spread where conditions are ideal, it is not likely to become invasive.
Why YOU Should Plant Marigolds. EVERYWHERE.
FAQ
What flowers grow similar to marigolds?
- Chrysogonum virginianum. Also known as “green and gold,” Chrysogonum virginianum is a perennial native plant, hardy to USDA zones 5-9. …
- Ficaria verna. …
- Geum radiatum. …
- Hypoxis hirsuta. …
- Ranunculus acris. …
- Frequently Asked Questions.
What flower looks like a marigold but isn t?
Celandine. In rural areas, it’s easy for lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) to grow into manicured areas, and when it flowers, it can be mistaken for marsh marigolds, says Wave Hill. Heart-shaped leaves give way to distinctively bright yellow, glossy petals.
What can I substitute for marigold?
A substitute for Marigold can be the Calendula. Also edible, and a herb, calendula can substitute for marigold in the garden.It functions much like marigold and is said to also repel snails and slugs.
What should you not plant marigolds next to?
Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles. Beans and cabbage are listed as bad companion plants for marigolds.
What flowers look like marigolds?
This flower has bright, daisy-like petals that are similar in shape to marigold petals. It comes in a range of colors, including orange and yellow, and is a popular choice for pollinator gardens. 9. California Poppy Botanical Name: Eschscholzia californica This flower has bright orange petals that are similar in color to marigolds.
What flowers go well with marigolds?
Try planting the marigolds along the edge of the bed with salvia farther back to create height and definition in the landscape! Bachelor buttons and marigolds complement each other in the garden. These pretty pops of color also go by cornflower. They look stunning next to marigolds in the garden with their complementary colors.
Are marigolds good for your garden?
Marigolds are easy-going, low-maintenance flowers that can also benefit certain plants in your garden, as long as you have proper expectations. From pest control properties to their beautiful orange and yellow blooms, there’s no reason not to add a few marigolds to your vegetable or flower garden this season!
What are the different types of marigolds?
These cultivars, which have half-inch to one-inch broad single flowers, are colorful in yellow, red, and orange. Some of the kinds that are available include “Lemon,” “Tangerine,” and “Paprika.” Some of the greatest edible marigolds are produced by small plants that reach a height of eight to twelve inches.
Are Marigolds a flowering perennial?
There are many herbal uses for calendula that marigolds don’t possess. They bloom in similar colors like orange and yellow. These wonderful flowering perennials easily fill up space in the garden and require minimal care. One of the most popular flowering annuals is the petunia. There are so many colors, sizes, and kinds of petunias!
What kind of marigolds grow on a mound?
This cultivar of T. patula has a fluffy golden-orange core surrounded by a ring of deep red petals. ‘Orange Flame,’ a dwarf marigold, is a remarkable addition to any garden since it grows on little, mounding plants that are only 12 inches tall. Searching for something different to include in your yearly beds?