Variety field guide
What to expect from Hawaii
Hawaii African marigold seeds produce orange bloom on 31–36 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Summer/Fall bloom make it useful for borders, containers, cutting, warm-season color, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Hawaii African marigold seeds produce orange bloom on 31–36 in upright/erect plants. Annual growth and Summer/Fall bloom make it useful for borders, containers, cutting, warm-season color, and seed saving.
About Hawaii
Hawaii is an annual african marigold with orange color, 31–36 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Hawaii; mature plant 31–36 in. Botanically it is Tagetes erecta. Maturity or first bloom: 80-89 Days; germination: 5-10 Days at 70–85 °F. Best for borders, containers, cutting, warm-season color, and seed saving. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
History and provenance
Tagetes species were domesticated and cultivated in Mexico and Central America long before becoming international bedding flowers. French and African marigolds are horticultural groups rather than statements of botanical origin. Tagetes patula and Tagetes erecta are kept distinct, and their common group names are not treated as proof of geographic provenance. A complete public breeder or release record for the named Hawaii strain has not been located. The cultivar name is retained, but no person, community, date, or place of origin is assigned without reliable documentation. African 'Hawaii' Marigold Seeds produce upright plants with large orange flowers and the substantial habit associated with African marigolds. The flowers draw pollinator visits, while the strong scent and dense growth add character to mixed garden beds. The name African marigold describes a horticultural type, not the species origin. The Alliance record identifies this as an open-pollinated Tagetes erecta selection called African Hawaii.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Tagetes erecta |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 80-89 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 31–36 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 12 in between plants; 18 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Hawaii from seed
How to grow Hawaii African marigold
Botanical identity: Tagetes erecta. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1/4 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 70–85 °F. Expected emergence: 5-10 Days. Use clean seed-starting conditions, the listed depth and temperature, and steady moisture without saturation.
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 12 in apart with 18 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
For a longer display of Hawaii, remove spent blooms unless seed is being saved. Give the plant its listed spacing, cut flowers with clean tools, and leave selected heads to mature fully for seed. Expected emergence is 5-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 80-89 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Hawaii is suited to borders, containers, cutting, warm-season color, and seed saving. Its orange flowers and 31–36 in stature help determine whether it belongs in a border, cutting row, container, meadow edge, or restoration-style planting. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Saving seed
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type Hawaii plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Tagetes erecta, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hawaii ready?
80-89 Days from sowing to the primary bloom or market stage used for the listed maturity range
How long does germination take?
Expect 5-10 Days near 70–85 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 31–36 in with an upright/erect habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Possible in a large container, raised bed, or in-ground planting with room for the mature plant
How is it used?
Primary role: Borders, containers, cutting, warm-season color, and seed saving. Grown for ornamental or habitat use rather than as a food crop.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:150 seeds
