Varieties of Calendula Officinalis

Pacific Beauty Series

• At least four varieties of pot marigolds are in the Pacific Beauty series, which were developed for cut flower production with their longer flower stems. Growing 18 to 24 inches tall and a bit more heat-resistant than others, the flowers also tend to be double-form, having additional rows of petals to look fuller and mask the dark brown centers. Cultivars in the series are pale but bright yellow, apricot-orange, cream and bicolor.

Princess Series

• The Princess series includes cultivars that bloom more quickly after sowing the seeds. Growing around 20 inches tall, the stems tend to branch at low heights so plants produce many flower stems. Flowers are double-form and are either yellow or orange. Four cultivars comprise the series, two of each color, one with a dark brown center disc and the other lacking the contrasting center.

Bon Bon Series

• Pot marigolds in the Bon Bon series grow with a more compact or short stature, maturing only 12 inches tall, including their flowers. The double-form flowers, also slightly smaller in diameter than others, come in an array of cream, bronze-orange, yellow and orange. The small size of these members of the series make them particularly useful for spring or fall flower bed foregrounds. Or, grow them as petite additions to the herb or vegetable garden, as the leaves are edible and useful in spicing up salads.

Gitana Series

• Also smaller in mature size are the pot marigolds in the Gitana series. Maturing 10 to 14 inches tall, Gitana cultivars are a bit larger than those in the Bon Bon series. The Gitana cultivars bear double-form flowers in orange, yellow or cream but with obvious dark brown center discs. Use them the same way as Bon Bon pot marigolds, too.

Other Cultivars

• Other pot marigolds to consider include those in the Kablouna series, which mature 24 inches tall with orange, yellow or gold flowers. In the flower centers are crested, upright petals that resemble quills. Indian Prince produces dark orange flowers with red-brown tints on petals. Touch of Red includes small flower heads that are small in pastel shades of yellow or orange with brown-red tips and petal undersides. Orange King produces large, boldly orange flowers. Art Shades includes cream, apricot or orange flowers with petals carrying varying pigment highlights. Lastly, the cultivar Prolifera, also called Hens and Chicks, produces orange flowers that are encircled by tiny flowers on stems.