Cruise Orange

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Asteraceae or Compositae

Order

Asterales

Genus

Tagetes

Species

patula

Description

An ornamental herbaceous plant with an upright habit and compact growth habit. Flowering is abundant and lasts throughout the summer and into early autumn, displaying bright and lively flower heads that create dense canopies, making it one of the most popular species for landscaping borders and flowerbeds, including roadside verges, as well as for embellishing balconies, window sills and terraces in pots, tubs and planters. It belongs to the group of plants defined as 'Insect friendly' because its flowers, often with a penetrating aroma with citrus notes, attract useful insects such as bees and butterflies, thus helping to preserve and improve the biodiversity of the place where it is used, even in urban areas. It is highly rustic, adapting to intense summer heat and full sun exposure, and requires little cultivation care.

Variety description

Cruise is a compact and re-flowering series of single-flowered or 'disc' marigolds, suitable for pack and pot 8 and 10. Easy, fast and economical cultivation while respecting the initial transplant temperatures of over 13°c in winter. Especially suitable for use in flower beds due to its high tolerance of heat and rain.

Brief cultivation information easy-to-grow plant adapts well to hot summer climates.

Curiosities and special features

Some varieties of Marigold patula are used in intercropping or crop rotation with vegetable plants because their roots release a chemical called alpha-tertienyl which inhibits the hatching of eggs of certain endophytic nematodes, hindering their development and protecting your vegetables. There are also varieties that give off a particular odour that is repellent to many garden pests.

The plant is also used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Origin and distribution

Most of the species belonging to the genus Tagetes are native to central-southern Mexico and Guatemala, where in ancient times they were used by the local populations in traditional medicine, for culinary and ceremonial purposes, and as a natural dye; the species patula was introduced by settlers in Spain in the mid-1500s and then spread to France and England, where it was first cultivated in 1570, and later throughout Europe and the United States as an ornamental plant.

Flower size

The flower individually is medium in size compared to that of other varieties, lending elegance to the inflorescence in which it is clustered.

Leaf

The leaf has an imparipinnate lamina.

Flowering period

Flowering lasts from mid-spring to early autumn for a duration of 170 to 200 days, ensuring continuity in the presence of the decorative and showy inflorescences that will serve as a focal point for a long time.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence head, typical of Species belonging to the botanical Family Asteraceae.

Leaf colour

Solid colour.

Plant height

The plant height varies from 0.2 to 0.28 m allowing for compact and bright plants.

Lifespan

It has an annual life cycle.

Where to plant

It is an excellent solution for adorning outdoor spaces such as flowerbeds, balconies, outdoor tubs, borders, island traffic flowerbeds

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower has a double, medium-sized form with plain petals. It is arranged in medium-sized flower head inflorescences. It flowers from mid-spring to early autumn, with a flowering period of between 170 and 200 days. It has citrusy and bitterish notes and is fragrant with a penetrating aroma. It is attractive to bees, butterflies, beetles and bumblebees.

Growth

It develops a compact Growth, ideal for creating dense, compact landscape effects.

Plant habit

With its upright habit, it can easily be combined with other flowering plants in the garden with an alternation of colours and heights, achieving a pleasant overall movement.

Branching

The abundant branching gives the variety a well-tended appearance, rich in leaves and flowers.

PH

The ideal pH of the soil or substrate is slightly acidic, with values between 5.5 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

For transplanting in mid-spring, carry out light digging, removing any weeds, residues of previous crops and bulky stones; it is also advisable to add professional substrate for flowering plants to the surface by about 5/10 cm and level it out thoroughly.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Sun exposure

It grows and develops adequately when exposed to half shade, full sun, afternoon sun. Prefer sunny positions if possible for best growth and flowering results.

Ideal climate and temperature

It adapts perfectly to hot summer climates, preserving the bright colour of the blooms. The ideal temperature is between 17 and 21 °C. The vital temperature is between 1 and 40 °C

Use

Its ease of cultivation and prolonged flowering in warm, vibrant tones make it widely used by designers and gardeners in

Outdoor Landscape Design Landscaping

Hardiness

A variety characterised by its high rusticity, it adapts to different growing conditions not always tolerated by other ornamental species, including those that can be created in urban areas within street beds during the hottest summer period.

Soil

The ideal soil for flowerbeds is medium-textured, well-drained soil; for use in pots and planters, a light, porous substrate for spring plants made of fibrous peat with perlite is recommended.

Difficulty

It is extremely easy to maintain and requires little management care, making it a popular plant in the ornamental field.

Growing tips

Here are some aspects and cultivation conditions for better vegetative growth and conspicuous flowering:

Balanced fertilisation Keep the substrate dry at low temperatures

Intercropping/combination

Often used in intercropping/combination with horticultural Species during the spring-summer period.

Combinations with other plants

Ideal for creating harmonious, compact and colourful compositions made up of groups of several varieties belonging to the same species or combined with other ornamental grasses of different heights in order to create perspective views and beautiful contrasts in mixed beds; recommended for use with Begonia semperflorens, Lobularia maritima, Petunia milliflora, Rudbeckia hirta, Salvia farinacea, Salvia splendens, Senecio cineraria, Zinniamarylandica.

Planting

For transplanting into beds we recommend an average density of 27 plants per square metre in order to allow each specimen to develop properly, thus achieving a proportionate composition and visually compact and uniform final effects. We suggest placing each seedling with the collar off the soil surface taking care not to damage the roots and watering immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours.

Propagation

Multiplication is from seed.

Watering

Use rainwater, alternatively from aqueducts or irrigation canals, by hand-watering or sprinkling. When transplanting, provide an initial copious watering and assist the seedling to ensure it takes root properly in its new site. Afterwards, allow the soil or substrate to dry out slightly after each watering, but avoid drying out. It is advisable not to water the aerial part of the plant from above during the afternoon or evening to prevent the spread of plant diseases.

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Fertilising

During the spring-summer period, following proper post-transplant settling, regularly apply a balanced fertiliser suitable for ornamental species to the soil or substrate at the foot of the plant, to be distributed in liquid form, i.e. diluted in the irrigation water, without exceeding the frequency and doses applied.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet safety

Toxicity not known; avoid administration.

Edibility for humans

The flower petals of some marigold varieties are edible, used in cooking for their spicy flavour. Consider the variety before ingestion as not all are edible.

Toxicity for humans

Ingestion toxicity not known; consider specific case.

Tip

It is advisable to put slow-release fertiliser (1-1.5 kg/mc) in the flowerbed for maximum results. Flowering is copious and continuous to look like a colourful mantle, for the 6-7 spring-summer months and until mid-autumn.