Hybrid

Coco™ Deep Orange

Tagetes erecta

Photo: Joydeep · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Tall, sturdy plants produce abundant, fully double 2 1/2-3 1/2" dark orange blooms for cut flowers and garden beds. The Coco™ series provides uniform flowering time and plant height across all three colors with excellent productivity for cut flower production. Bold, uniform flowers are also useful for marigold garlands. Also known as African marigold, American marigold, and Aztec marigold. Edible Flowers: Use the flowers to dress up salads and desserts or cooked in egg or rice dishes. Flavor is floral with hints of citrus and spice, and slightly bitter. Remove the petals from the flower base before consuming as the base can be quite bitter.

Harvest

70-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-4 feet

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Coco™ Deep Orange in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Coco™ Deep Orange · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining loam, neutral to slightly acidic

WaterRegular, consistent moisture; moderate drought tolerance once established but reduces flowering

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorFloral with hints of citrus and spice, with lingering bitterness; outer petals milder than the bitter flower base

ColorDark orange

Size2 1/2-3 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Coco Deep Orange runs 70-90 days to first bloom, so in zone 7 you've got a workable window for two rounds. Start the first batch indoors in late February, transplant out after last frost (around April 15 in most of middle Georgia), and you'll have blooms by early July. Start a second round indoors in late March or direct sow in mid-April; those plants will carry color through the first frost in October or November.

Don't bother sowing after mid-June — plants started that late will be just hitting their stride when frost shuts them down, and you'll get maybe a few weeks of bloom for the trouble. Heat doesn't stop marigolds the way it stops lettuce, but if you're direct sowing, soil temps above 95°F will push germination past 14 days and cut your germination rate noticeably. Sow in the morning and keep the seedbed consistently moist until sprouts appear.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Coco™ Deep Orange reaches harvest at 70 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2 1/2-3 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Color: Black. Type: Achene.

Harvest time: Fall

Edibility: Sap or juice can cause a rash.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh cut flowers last 7–10 days in a vase with cool water and a floral preservative (or a pinch of sugar and a few drops of bleach). Keep stems submerged in water immediately after cutting; re-cut stems every 2–3 days and remove any foliage below the water line. Store in a cool location (65–72°F) away from ripening fruit and direct sun, which accelerates petal drop.

For edible petals, refrigerate unwashed in a breathable container lined with paper towels for up to 3 days. Freeze petals on a parchment-lined tray, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 6 months—ideal for adding to cooked dishes where texture isn't critical. Dry petals by laying them on screens in a warm, well-ventilated space (70–80°F with low humidity) for 2–3 weeks, then store in airtight jars in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. Dried petals are excellent for herbal infusions, garnishes, and tea blends.

History & Origin

Coco™ Deep Orange is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Mexico to Guatemala

Advantages

+Produces abundant fully double 2.5-3.5 inch dark orange blooms reliably
+Tall sturdy plants offer uniform flowering time and height consistency
+Excellent for cut flower production with bold uniform flowers
+Edible petals add floral citrus flavor to salads and dishes
+Easy to grow with 70-90 day maturity from seed

Considerations

-Bitter flower base requires careful petal removal before consuming safely
-Tall plants may require staking in windy garden locations
-Marigolds attract spider mites and other common pest infestations

Companion Plants

African marigolds like Coco Deep Orange pull their weight in the vegetable garden through a documented root chemistry, not just tradition. Their roots release alpha-terthienyl, a compound that suppresses soil-dwelling nematodes, particularly root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). NC State Extension notes the effect is strongest when marigolds are planted densely and grown in the same bed for a full season — one plant tucked in as an afterthought won't move the needle. Pair them with alyssum, which draws in parasitic wasps (Braconidae family) that target whiteflies and thrips, two pests that will find your marigolds reliably by August. Nasturtiums are worth adding too: they act as a trap crop, pulling aphids away from anything more valuable nearby.

Zinnias and cosmos sit comfortably at 12-18 inches alongside Coco Deep Orange without much competition — all three are shallow-rooted warm-season annuals, and in our zone 7 Georgia garden they form a useful pollinator corridor between vegetable rows without shading each other out or fighting for water.

Give fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) a wide berth — it's broadly allelopathic and will stunt neighboring plants through root exudates. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is the harder constraint: the juglone it produces accumulates in the surrounding soil and is concentrated enough within the tree's drip line to kill marigolds outright, sometimes within a single growing season.

Plant Together

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs

Lavender

Deters moths, fleas, and mosquitoes with aromatic oils

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide complementary height variation

Salvia

Repel pests and attract pollinators with strong fragrance

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit nearby plant growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Spider mites, thrips, whiteflies

Diseases

Powdery mildew, root rot (in waterlogged soil), botrytis (gray mold in high humidity)

Troubleshooting Coco™ Deep Orange

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Fine webbing on the undersides of leaves, with tiny stippled damage on the leaf surface — usually shows up during hot, dry stretches

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — thrives when temps push above 85°F and humidity drops
Dusty conditions, especially near paths or field edges, which suppress natural predators like predatory mites (Phytoseiidae)

What to Do

1.Blast the undersides of leaves hard with water every 2-3 days — mites hate moisture and it physically dislodges them
2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil in the early morning before temps climb; repeat every 5-7 days for at least 3 applications
3.Avoid evening overhead watering, which creates conditions that favor botrytis without doing anything useful against mites

White powdery coating spreading across upper leaf surfaces, starting mid-to-late summer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew — multiple fungal species cause this on Tagetes; warm days and cool nights with poor airflow are the trigger
Plants crowded closer than 12 inches apart, blocking circulation

What to Do

1.Remove and trash (don't compost) the worst-affected stems
2.Spray with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate product like Kaligreen weekly
3.Next season, keep spacing at 12-18 inches and site plants where morning sun dries the foliage fast

Stems collapsing at the soil line, roots brown and mushy, plants dying quickly after a wet stretch

Likely Causes

Root rot — most commonly Phytophthora or Pythium species — triggered by waterlogged soil
Planting in low spots that don't drain within an hour of heavy rain

What to Do

1.Pull and discard affected plants; don't replant marigolds in that spot this season
2.Amend heavy clay beds with 2-3 inches of compost worked in before the next planting, or build up a raised bed at least 6 inches above grade
3.Water deeply but infrequently — established plants can go 5-7 days between waterings in most soils — and skip a session if the top inch is still damp

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Coco™ Deep Orange marigold take to grow from seed to first flower?▼

Expect 70–90 days from seed to first bloom. This timeline assumes seeds are started indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date and transplanted outdoors after frost danger passes, or direct-sown into warm soil (70°F+). Germination occurs in 7–10 days, seedling growth takes 4–6 weeks, and flowering begins 3–4 weeks after transplanting. In ideal warm conditions, fast growers may flower in 65 days; cooler climates or late planting will extend the timeline to 90+ days.

Can you grow Coco™ Deep Orange in containers or pots?▼

Yes, absolutely. Use containers at least 8–10 inches deep with drainage holes and quality potting mix. Space one plant per 8–10 inch pot or three plants per 18 inch container. Water more frequently than in-ground plants (containers dry faster), and fertilize every 2 weeks due to nutrient leaching. Container plants are slightly more compact than in-ground counterparts but produce abundant flowers. Deadhead aggressively to maintain productivity in limited root space.

Is Coco™ Deep Orange good for beginners?▼

Highly recommended for beginners. These marigolds are forgiving, germinate reliably, tolerate transplanting, grow quickly, and flower prolifically with minimal intervention. They're naturally pest- and disease-resistant and don't require staking, pruning, or specialized care. The main requirement is regular deadheading and consistent watering—two tasks most beginners can handle. If you can keep a plant alive for 3–4 weeks outdoors, you can succeed with Coco™.

What does Coco™ Deep Orange marigold taste like?▼

The petals have a distinctly floral flavor with hints of citrus and warm spice (peppery, slightly pungent), followed by a lingering bitterness. The intensity varies by petal location—inner petals near the flower base taste significantly more bitter than outer petals. For culinary use, remove petals from the flower base entirely and use only the softer outer petals. The flavor works best in light applications like salad garnishes, dessert toppings, or cooked into rice and egg dishes where the bitterness melds with other flavors.

When should I plant Coco™ Deep Orange marigold seeds?▼

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost date (check your local frost date calendar). This allows seedlings to mature indoors before transplanting outdoors after frost danger passes and soil reaches 60°F+. Alternatively, direct sow seeds outdoors after your last frost date and when soil is consistently 70°F or warmer. For continuous blooms through fall, stagger sowings every 2–3 weeks until 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost. In warm climates (USDA zones 9–11), you can sow in fall for winter flowers.

Do Coco™ Deep Orange marigolds need full sun?▼

They thrive in full sun (6+ hours daily) but tolerate partial shade (4–6 hours). However, flowering density and stem strength decrease noticeably in partial shade—expect fewer, slower-opening blooms and longer, lankier stems as plants stretch toward light. For maximum productivity (especially as cut flowers), plant in full sun. Morning sun with afternoon shade in extremely hot climates (110°F+) can reduce stress without severely compromising flowering.