Coco™ Gold
Tagetes erecta
Photo: Reinhold Möller Ermell · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tall, sturdy plants produce an abundance of 2 1/2-3 1/2" fully double golden 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. Flower color and flower size are comparable to Giant Yellow. Plants are slightly taller and later to bloom than Giant Yellow in our trials. 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
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Coco™ Gold in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Coco™ Gold · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
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 Gold runs 70–90 days to bloom, long enough that a single sowing can leave a gap in the garden before fall. In zone 7, start seeds indoors in late February or early March, transplant after last frost (typically mid-April), then direct sow a second round in May or early June. That second flush will carry color into October before frost ends things.
Don't push direct sowing past late June. Seeds want soil temps above 65°F to germinate in the expected 7–10 days, but plants started too late won't hit full bloom before shorter days and cooler nights slow them down. Zones 2–4 should plan on a single indoor-started round — the frost-free window isn't long enough to justify a second direct sowing.
Complete Growing Guide
Tall, sturdy plants produce an abundance of 2 1/2-3 1/2" fully double golden 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. Flower color and flower size are comparable to Giant Yellow. Plants are slightly taller and later to bloom than Giant Yellow in our trials. 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. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Coco™ Gold is 70 - 90 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Grows Well in Containers, Edible Flowers.
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™ Gold 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 Coco® Gold stems last 5–7 days in a vase filled with cool water and a floral preservative. Change water every 2–3 days. Edible petals keep refrigerated in a sealed container lined with damp paper towels for up to 2 days; don't wash until just before use, as moisture promotes decay.
To dry petals for longer storage, lay them in a single layer on parchment paper in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area (65–75°F) for 5–7 days. Store dried petals in an airtight container away from light for up to 6 months. Dried petals work well in herbal teas, though flavor fades with time. You can also freeze whole flowers or petals in ice cube trays with water or in freezer bags for up to 3 months, though texture will soften upon thawing—best reserved for cooked applications like rice or egg dishes rather than garnishing.
History & Origin
Coco™ Gold is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Mexico to Guatemala
Advantages
- +Produces abundant 2.5-3.5 inch fully double golden blooms consistently
- +Tall sturdy plants ideal for cut flower production and gardens
- +Uniform flowering time and height across entire planting
- +Slightly larger flowers comparable to Giant Yellow variety
- +Edible petals add citrus-spice flavor to salads and desserts
Considerations
- -Blooms later than Giant Yellow variety requiring longer growing season
- -Requires 70-90 days to flower limiting quick garden results
- -Flower base tastes quite bitter and must be removed carefully
Companion Plants
Coco Gold's most useful trait as a companion comes from below the soil line. Tagetes erecta roots produce alpha-terthienyl, a compound shown to suppress root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) — so tucking these plants along the edges of a tomato or pepper bed does actual work, not just decorative duty. Alyssum is a natural pairing at the border: it tops out around 6–8 inches and draws in parasitic wasps and hoverflies whose larvae feed on aphids, while Coco Gold runs 1–4 feet tall. They occupy different vertical layers and don't crowd each other out.
Nasturtiums pull aphid pressure away from nearby plants — aphids colonize them preferentially, which functions as a live trap crop. That's genuinely useful if you're growing Coco Gold next to something aphid-susceptible. Cosmos and zinnias are lower-stakes companions: no particular pest mechanism, but they share the same full-sun, moderate-water requirements, so they won't pull the bed in different directions and they extend the pollinator window through summer.
Black Walnut and Eucalyptus are the ones to keep well away — juglone (from walnut roots and leaf litter) and cineole (from Eucalyptus) are both allelopathic compounds that can stunt or kill nearby annuals. NC State Extension puts the juglone danger zone at 50–60 feet from a mature Black Walnut's canopy edge. Sunflowers are a milder concern but still compete hard for soil moisture and have some allelopathic effect on neighboring plants, so give them their own section of the bed.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel squash bugs
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and asparagus beetles
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators
Zinnias
Attract beneficial predatory insects and butterflies for pest control
Catmint
Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while being drought tolerant
Cosmos
Attract beneficial insects and provide vertical structure without competition
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants and inhibits growth
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth of nearby plants
Sunflowers
Compete heavily for nutrients and water, may release growth-inhibiting chemicals
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Spider mites (in hot, dry conditions), aphids, whiteflies
Diseases
Powdery mildew (in humid conditions), root rot (in waterlogged soil)
Troubleshooting Coco™ Gold
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Fine webbing on undersides of leaves, foliage looks dusty or bronzed, plants look stressed despite adequate water
Likely Causes
- Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — thrives when temps push above 85°F and humidity drops
- Overcrowded planting that traps heat without enough airflow
What to Do
- 1.Hit the undersides of leaves hard with a strong jet of water from a hose — knocks mite populations down fast
- 2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil at 7-day intervals; two or three applications usually breaks the cycle
- 3.Space plants at least 12 inches apart (18 is better in hot climates) to reduce the dry microclimates mites love
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing in late summer when nights cool down but days stay warm
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum or related species) — common on Tagetes in humid conditions with poor airflow
- Overhead watering late in the day, leaving foliage wet overnight
What to Do
- 1.Water at the base of the plant in the morning so foliage stays dry
- 2.Remove and bag heavily infected leaves — don't compost them
- 3.A baking soda spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water with a drop of dish soap) can slow spread on mild cases; copper fungicide works for more serious outbreaks
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Coco® Gold take to bloom from seed?▼
Can you grow Coco® Gold in containers?▼
Is Coco® Gold good for beginners?▼
What does Coco® Gold taste like?▼
How does Coco® Gold compare to Giant Yellow marigold?▼
When should I plant Coco® Gold seeds?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.