Most marigolds grown in home gardens are annuals, not perennials. The familiar French marigold (Tagetes patula), African marigold (Tagetes erecta), and signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) are normally grown as tender annuals and complete their life cycle in one growing season.
Why Marigolds Sometimes Seem Perennial
Marigolds can reseed themselves. New seedlings may appear the following year from seed dropped by the previous crop, which can make an annual planting look as though the same plants returned.
Are Any Marigolds Perennial?
Yes, some species in the genus Tagetes are perennial in suitable climates. That does not make the common bedding marigolds perennial. Common names can also be confusing: “Mexican marigold” is sometimes used for Tagetes erecta, which is commonly grown as an annual, while other Tagetes species may be perennial shrubs in warm regions.
Common Garden Marigolds
- French marigold — Tagetes patula: annual
- African/Aztec marigold — Tagetes erecta: tender annual in normal garden use
- Signet marigold — Tagetes tenuifolia: annual
Can Marigolds Survive Winter?
Common annual marigolds are frost-sensitive. In cold-winter climates they die after frost. Gardeners usually replant them from seed or transplants the next season.
What to expect when buying plants
If you are buying the common French, African, or signet marigolds sold for flower beds and containers, treat them as annuals. Some other Tagetes species can be perennial in warm climates, but that is a different question from the life cycle of the common bedding marigolds.
Sources: University of Illinois Extension and Wisconsin Horticulture list common garden marigolds as annuals; North Carolina Extension identifies French marigold as an annual.
Check the species before planning winter survival
The RHS describes African marigold, Tagetes erecta, as an annual. A long flowering season or a sheltered frost-free position should not be marketed as a dependable way to turn common bedding marigolds into perennial plants. Reseeding also produces new plants rather than proving the old plant survived.
For a genuinely perennial example, NC State identifies Tagetes lucida, Mexican tarragon, as perennial in suitable climates, while it is grown as an annual in colder areas. Check the botanical name and local hardiness before purchasing. The common name Mexican marigold can refer to different species.
Cultivar names within French or African marigolds can indicate different height, flower form or color; they are not by themselves proof of perennial survival. Choose the variety for its mature size and intended display. For the separate care question, see marigold light and flowering care.
