THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLDS

They come in endless hues, have healing powers and are even edible – no wonder we’re enchanted by these cheerful beauties

According to the seed companies, 2018 is the Year of the Marigold. While this should be taken with a pinch of salt, the marketing men do have a good track record of picking ‘on trend’ plants: last year it was zinnias, while in 2016 it was the highly fashionable cosmos.

The marigolds being promoted are those from the genus Tagetes, better known as the African marigold, and the smaller-flowered French marigold (confusingly, both of them actually originated in Latin America). They are bright, cheerful flowers that are very easy to grow and ideal for containers or bedding schemes, yet they lack the charm of another type of marigold, the graceful and romantic Calendula officinalis.

Also called English or pot marigolds, calendulas have long been known for their medicinal properties and you will often see them listed as an ingredient in nappy creams, hand lotions and moisturisers. The petals are edible and look very pretty scattered over a summer salad; they also make excellent cut flowers. The daisylike blooms are charming and come in a range of orange, yellow, cream and russet tones.

If it’s orange you’re after, try shimmering ‘Indian Prince’ or ‘Orange Porcupine’ with its unusual, quill- shaped petals; both will grow to 18in. If you want something that will get to 2ft, there’s ‘Radio’, a variety that’s been a best-seller for decades, or a more recent introduction, the dazzling ‘Neon’, with ruffled flowers tipped with burgundy. Another striking tall calendula is ‘Greenheart Orange’, whose centre is an unusual lime green. For a dwarf variety, vibrant ‘Candyman Orange’ is a good choice, growing to 1ft.

If your taste is for more subtle hues there are some exquisite pastel- coloured calendulas. ‘Snow Princess’ has pure-white petals with a yellow underside, while the frilly double flowers of ‘Pink Surprise’ come in an unusual shade of pinky orange, set off by an eye- catching brown centre. For that fashionable ‘ vintage’ look, try ‘Touch of Red Buff’, with petals of a beige-pink colour tipped with brown. All of these will reach 2ft.

There are also some excellent dwarf calendulas in pretty paler pastel shades, A selection of pretty pot marigolds which will grow to around 1ft. ‘Lemon Daisy’ is a charming soft yellow, or there’s the many-petalled ‘Apricot Pygmy’. The ‘Pygmy Formula Mixture’ is a lovely combination of cream, gold, orange and apricot flowers. Calendulas are hardy annuals, and can be sown indoors from now until March on moist compost, at a temperature of between 18 and 23 º C. They will germinate within ten days. You could also sow them outdoors in April or May in their final f lowering position. They need full sun and if you deadhead them regularly they will flower right through until the first winter frosts. Calendulas will frequently self seed, and once they have established themselves in your garden they tend to pop up year after year. Combine them with other annuals like larkspur, cornflowers, cosmos and poppies for a really colourful summer display.