Are Marigolds Shade Tolerant?

Light Needs

• Most annual flowering plants require abundant sunlight in order to produce flowers, and marigolds are no exception. Although several species and myriad cultivars of marigolds are available, all of them require a full-sun site in order to thrive, and they relish the heat of summer.

Other Site Requirements

• Marigolds perform best in moist, well-drained soil with high levels of organic matter. In order to prepare a garden bed for marigolds, mix in pine bark or chopped fallen leaves into the top 6 to 10 inches of soil. The distance to space your marigolds depends on the species; some, such as the African marigold, can reach spreads of up to 4 feet. Plant French marigolds 6 to 9 inches apart and African marigolds 18 inches apart. Finally, keep your plants well watered during their first two weeks in your garden. After that, you should water them only if you receive less than 1 inch of rainfall that week.

Yellow Flowers for Shade

• If you have a shady spot in your garden and love the sunny look of yellow marigolds, consider planting another yellow annual instead. While annual flowers typically benefit from full sun, a few species can tolerate partial shade. Some cultivars of monkeyflower produce yellow foliage spotted with darker coloration. Yellow pansies will grow well in light shade conditions. Numerous yellow perennials will grow in the shade as well. Epimedium, daylily, globeflower and loosestrife will all brighten your shade garden with color.

Orange and Red Annuals for Shade

• Likewise, to add a touch of red or orange to your shade garden, you can substitute a red- or orange-blooming annual that can tolerate shade better than marigolds. Begonias produce deep red flowers and will grow in the shade. Impatiens -- another shade-tolerant plant -- come in shades ranging from delicate pink to deep orange and red. You can also find monkeyflowers in orange and red cultivars. For a different way to add color to your shade garden, consider the caladium, which produces foliage with bright red highlights.