“African Marigold Bali Yellow, the professionals #1 choice at the Cotswold Wildlife Park”

Following the European trials by Fleuroselect to celebrate ‘2018, Year of the Marigold’, both consumers and experts have cast their vote.

A similar marigold trial was set up at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, a very popular destination for family day trips in the South of England. A panel of seven professionals visited the marigold display five times in 9 weeks and judged the plants (146 unmarked varieties of marigold) on garden performance and overall appearance. The following varieties proved to be outstanding:

African Marigolds: AmeriSeed – Bali Yellow and Bali Gold, Inca II Gold, Inca II Orange, Perfection Orange.

French Marigolds: Naughty Marietta, Red Cherry, Favourite Mix, Konstance, Super Hero Orange Flame.

The jury of experts included Andrew Bennett, Janice Shipp, Harriet Rycroft, Andrew Spires, Kay Shih and Peter Freeman.

‘2018, Year of the Marigold’
Within the framework of the ‘2018, Year of the Marigold’ marketing campaign, Fleuroselect, the International organisation for pot and bedding plant breeders, initiated five extensive marigold trials. In addition to RHS Wisley and the Cotswold Wildlife Park. Marigold displays were also planted in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, the Ega-Park in Erfurt and at the Tegeasc Research Institute in Dublin.More than 148 varieties were planted. The aim of the campaign was to inspire the public with the beauty and diversity of marigolds and to increase the sales of existing varieties.