Marigolds are sturdy, cheerful flowers that come in bright sunny colors like yellow, orange, red, and gold. They have lots of ruffled petals bunched together, making them look like soft pom-poms or little fireballs! Marigolds originally come from Mexico and Central America, where they have been grown for thousands of years. They are very important in Mexican culture, and during a special holiday called the Day of the Dead, people use bright orange marigolds to decorate because they believe the flowers help guide loved ones home. Marigolds are also super easy to grow from seeds, which makes them a great first flower for kids to plant.
Farmers and gardeners love to plant marigolds near their vegetables because the strong smell of the flowers helps keep hungry bugs and even some rabbits away from the other plants! Marigolds are like little garden guards that protect your tomatoes and peppers. They love the sun and stay bright and colorful all summer long, from the time school lets out until it starts again in the fall. Some types of marigolds are used to make natural yellow and orange dye for coloring fabrics and food. Marigold petals are sometimes even added to chicken feed to help make egg yolks a brighter, deeper yellow color!
