Botanical profile

Lemon marigold

Latin name
Signet Marigold
Common name
Lemon marigold
Type
Edible and useful annual
Family
Asteraceae

Lemon marigold is a highly prized annual aromatic plant known for its finely cut foliage with a fresh, citrusy, and slightly spicy scent. Its vibrant and pleasant aroma makes it an excellent plant for herb gardens, vegetable patches, edible raised beds, and patio containers. In addition to its fragrant foliage, it produces pretty yellow to orange flowers that add a bright and natural touch to outdoor spaces.

Easy to grow, lemon marigold prefers a sunny, warm, and well-drained location. It thrives equally well in pots and in the ground and requires little maintenance when it receives enough light. Regular watering helps maintain healthy growth, but overwatering should be avoided. Light harvesting of foliage or occasional pruning helps keep the plant denser, bushier, and pleasant to use throughout the season.

Both decorative, fragrant, and useful in the garden, lemon marigold attracts pollinators while adding an original aromatic touch to culinary spaces. Its leaves and flowers can be used sparingly to flavor certain infusions, salads, desserts, cold drinks, or summer dishes. It is an excellent plant for gardeners looking for an easy-to-grow, colorful, and fragrant annual, perfect for enriching a vegetable garden, herb garden, or edible landscape.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Aromatic lemon foliage and decorative orange-yellow flowers
Vegetable garden, herbs, container, edible border, edible flowers, pollinator garden
Container growing
Container culture excellent in a well-drained pot
Seasonal care
Harvest leaves and flowers as needed; remove faded flowers to prolong blooming; protect from cold
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Non-hardy – grown as an annual in Quebec (zones 10+ only as a perennial)
Exposure
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Humidity
Low to medium humidity; prefers well-drained soil
Fertilization
Light compost when sowing; moderate fertilization in pots
Soil type
Light, fertile, rather dry, and well-drained soil
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Minimum temperature
32 °F
Propagation method
Direct sowing or cuttings
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer to Fall
Flower color
Orange-yellow
Fruiting
Seeds at the end of the season
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Compact, branched, bushy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches)
Width
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Tomatoes, basil, peppers, marigolds
Plants to avoid
None known
Spacing
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm)
Harvest period
June to September
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Repellent
Helps repel certain pests

Repellent

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.