Marigolds, belonging to the Tagetes genus, are popular, bright-colored annuals frequently planted by gardeners worldwide. Many people choose these flowers hoping to support local pollinator populations like bees. However, the question of whether marigolds effectively attract bees does not have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. The true pollinator appeal of a marigold is heavily influenced by which specific variety or cultivar is being grown.
The Direct Answer: Marigolds and Pollinator Appeal
Marigolds are generally considered less attractive to primary pollinators, such as honeybees and bumblebees, when compared to native wildflowers or other garden favorites like coneflowers. While all marigolds produce both nectar and pollen, the quantity and accessibility of these resources are highly variable. This often leads bees to prioritize other flowers that offer a more dependable and easily reached food source.
The confusion over their appeal stems from the extensive hybridization these flowers have undergone over time. Cultivars bred for large, showy blooms often lose the traits that make them appealing to insects. For the bees that do visit, the encounter may be less rewarding than they expect.
Marigolds often serve as excellent habitat for other beneficial insects. They are known hosts for predatory species like hoverflies and certain parasitic wasps. These insects help manage common garden pests, providing a different kind of ecological benefit even if the bee attraction is minimal.
Factors Influencing Bee Visitation
The primary reason many modern marigolds fail to attract bees is related to their floral morphology, or physical structure. Plant breeders have focused on developing cultivars with “doubled” or “pom-pom” heads, where the stamens and pistils are replaced by extra petals. This dense, layered structure physically blocks the bee’s access to the pollen and the nectaries deep within the flower’s center.
Even if a bee lands, the layers of petals act as a barrier, preventing it from effectively gathering the necessary food. The time and energy investment required to navigate these complex blooms often outweighs the caloric reward. Bees quickly learn to ignore flowers that are difficult to access.
Marigold scent also plays a role, as the distinct, often pungent aroma is a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds. While the bright yellow and orange colors are visually attractive to bees, whose vision extends into the ultraviolet spectrum, the strong scent can be off-putting to some species.
Furthermore, the quality and concentration of the nectar produced by heavily hybridized marigolds can be lower than that of their wilder relatives. Lower sugar concentration means the visiting bee must consume more to gain the same energy, making other, higher-yielding plants a more efficient foraging choice.
Marigold Varieties: Best and Worst for Bees
Gardeners focused on supporting pollinators should prioritize marigold varieties that have retained their original, simple floral structure. Single-petal marigolds feature a clearly visible, open central disc of reproductive parts. This open architecture provides instant and easy access to both the pollen and the nectar reward.
‘Signet’ marigolds, such as Tagetes tenuifolia varieties like ‘Lemon Gem’ or ‘Tangerine Gem,’ are excellent choices due to their small, single-flowered blooms and large numbers. Many traditional French marigolds (Tagetes patula) fall into this category, particularly those that are not explicitly advertised as “doubled” or “crested.” These simpler types function more like the wild ancestors that bees recognize as a valuable food source.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are the large, heavily “puffed” African or Aztec marigolds (Tagetes erecta). These varieties, such as the ‘Inca’ or ‘Crackerjack’ series, have been bred for maximum visual impact and size. Their dense, globe-like blooms are the result of extensive petal doubling, rendering them functionally useless to foraging bees.
These large, hybrid varieties effectively seal off the pollen and nectar, turning the flower into a sterile aesthetic object from a pollinator’s perspective. If attracting bees is the primary goal of planting, choosing single-flowered heirloom varieties or native alternatives will always yield a superior result compared to planting highly bred, double-flowered annuals.