Native to the eastern  Mediterranean and western Africa,  corn marigold is a rounded spreading annual and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, yarrow, and lettuce. Plants grow 1-2′ tall and are well branched with hairless fleshy stems bearing oblong to obovate leaves that are blue-green, lobed, and sessile.  The  2.5″ wide flowerheads  are carried in terminal sprays and consist of  bright yellow ray flowers surrounding a center of yellow disc flowers.  They appear from June into fall and are an attractive in a border, rockery, cottage garden or a meadow planting.  The genus name, Chrysanthemum, comes from the Greek words chrysos meaning gold and anthos meaning flower and refers to the bright yellow color of the flower.  The specific epithet, segetum, is the Latin word meaning of the corn fields and refers to its common habitat in Europe.

Type: Annual

Bloom: Bright yellow flowerheads from June to fall

Size: 1-2′ H x 2′ W

Light:Full sun

Soil: Average, moderately moist, well-drained, slightly acidic

Hardiness: Not relevant

Care: Low maintenance

Pests and Diseases: None of significance

Propagation: Seed

Companion Plants:Corn cockle, cornflower, common poppy

Outstanding Selections:

‘Eastern Star’ (primrose-ellow flowers with brown disc)

‘Evening Star’ ((bright golden yellow flowers)

‘Prado’ (2″ wide golden yellow flowers with dark red center, 3′ tall)

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

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By Karen