Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For orange flowers in a backyard, choose by the spot as much as by color: calendula and nasturtium tolerate poorer soil, zinnias and Tagetes marigolds want sun and warmth, and daylilies return as perennials. These five options range from compact bedding plants to a scrambling climber, so you can match them to beds, containers, borders, or a support.
Compare the five orange-flowering choices
| Flower | Life cycle | Light and soil | Habit and size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendula (Calendula officinalis) | Usually grown as an annual; can be biennial | Full sun or partial shade; light, poor, free-draining soil | Upright; RHS profile gives 0.1–0.5 m (about 4–20 in) for height and spread, depending on variety and conditions |
| Zinnia | Half-hardy annual | Sun and a warm, sheltered, free-draining site | Upright; RHS guide gives 30–90 cm average height and 30–40 cm average spacing; Illinois Extension gives a broader 8–36 in mature-height range |
| Tagetes marigold | Tender annual | Full sun; moist, well-drained soil | Upright bedding plant; Illinois Extension gives 1–3 ft typical mature height |
| Daylily (Hemerocallis) | Perennial | Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil | Upright; Illinois Extension gives 12 in to 4 ft mature height |
| Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) | Annual | Full sun; poor, well-drained soil | Trailing or climbing; RHS gives 1.5–2.5 m height and spread for the strong-growing climber, while bush varieties can be smaller |
These dimensions are profile or guide ranges, not guarantees for every cultivar. Check the plant or seed label for the mature size of the variety you choose. Planting dates and frost timing vary by location; use your local last-frost date and the instructions on the packet.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Calendula: orange color in sun or partial shade
Pot marigold, Calendula officinalis, produces vivid, daisy-like flowers over summer and autumn. It is a useful choice where a bed gets some afternoon shade or the soil is relatively poor, provided it drains freely. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) lists its profile height and spread as 0.1–0.5 m (about 4–20 in); variety and growing conditions affect the result.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Sow seed in place in spring or autumn. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to prolong flowering, and pinch the terminal shoots if you want a bushier plant.
#1 Best Overall
- flower seeds bee pollunator butterfly
2. Zinnia: a warm, sunny spot for summer blooms
Zinnias are half-hardy annuals that flower through summer and into early autumn in warm, sheltered conditions. For orange blooms, Illinois Extension lists cultivars including ‘Crystal Orange’ and ‘Star Orange’; confirm the cultivar on the seed packet, since not every zinnia is orange.
The RHS recommends sowing seed in late spring and planting seedlings outside only after frost danger has passed. Its growing guide gives an average height of 30–90 cm and spacing of 30–40 cm; Illinois Extension’s broader mature-height range is 8–36 in. Use the variety label to plan spacing. Deadhead or cut blooms to encourage further flowering. The RHS guide’s estimate of about 12 weeks from sowing to flowering is a guide, not a guaranteed schedule.
Rank #2
- Beautiful - Full color seed packets of Ball’s Orange Calendula (Calendula officinalis) flowers. This variety produces beautiful round deep orange colored blossoms. Enjoy outside in the garden and indoors as cut flowers. Minimum of 750mg per packet (about 80 seeds).
- Productive - Calendula germinates in 7-14 days when soil temps are above 65°F. Plant 1/4” deep and space 10-15” apart in an area with full sun. This variety will grow 1-2’ tall with a spread of 6-8”. Flowers will mature in 50-60 days. Plant in USDA zones 2-11.
- Pollinator Friendly - Butterflies and bees love Ball’s Orange Calendula flowers and will likely pay you many visits. Great way to support your local pollinators. Plant wildflower style or in carefully arranged beds, whatever suits your fancy. Can produce an amazing 100 blossoms per plant.
- Easy to Grow - Instructions included on each packet. Plus, we are available to answer all your questions. If these seeds don’t germinate, we will happily make it right for you.
- Safe and Sustainable - Our operation is fully solar powered, and Sow Right Seeds has taken the Safe Seed Pledge to sell only fresh Non-GMO heirloom seeds for you and your family.
3. Tagetes marigold: classic bedding flowers for beds and pots
Tagetes is the familiar bedding marigold, a tender annual with flowers in orange, yellow, or white. It is not the same plant as calendula, despite both commonly being called marigolds. Tagetes suits a sunny bed or container with moist, well-drained soil. Illinois Extension gives a typical mature height of 1–3 ft.
Remove faded flowers to support reblooming. Because Tagetes is tender, follow local guidance on when it is safe to plant outdoors.
Rank #3
- Extra large packet contains over 1 full ounce of pure live seeds (20,000+ seeds!) Enough to cover 100 square feet
- Fresh and healthy seeds with high germination rates make growing your garden quick, easy, and fun
- Premium Packaging designed for optimal seed storage, with resealble zipper, beautiful photos, and full planting instructions; Great for gift giving
- Quality seeds your can trust; non-GMO, open polinated, from the USA, 100% pure live seeds
- California Native Eschscholzia californica creates carpets of beautiful orange flowers with feathry green foliage wherever you plant them
4. Daylily: a perennial option for a border
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) include orange-flowered cultivars and return as perennials. They grow in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Illinois Extension lists mature heights from 12 in to 4 ft, and bloom seasons differ by cultivar; some varieties rebloom. Choose a named variety with a flowering period and eventual size that fit the border.
Cat safety: The RHS says every part of a daylily is toxic to cats if eaten, although reported poisonings are extremely rare. Take this into account when deciding where to plant if cats can reach the garden.
Rank #4
- Brilliant West Coast Color: Orange California poppy seeds grow upright to 16 inches tall with glowing orange and yellow blooms. Premium California poppy seeds for planting in full sun outdoor garden spaces.
- Fast Germination: Eschscholzia californica seeds sprout in 2–3 weeks at 60–65°F. Sow california poppy seed 1/4 inch deep for strong poppy plant roots and reliable poppy seeds for planting outdoors.
- Drought Tolerant Performer: California golden poppy seeds thrive in poor, well drained soil. These California native wildflower seeds reduce watering needs once mature in dry landscapes.
- Wide Climate Adaptation: California wildflower seeds suitable for Hardiness Zones 1–12. Annual, tender perennial poppy plants may reseed naturally, expanding colorful drifts season after season.
- Perfect for Bouquets: California poppies seeds produce delicate stems for cut flowers. Harvest early blooms for longer vase life; excellent bulk poppy seeds for planting in cut flower garden beds.
5. Nasturtium: a trailing or climbing flower for poor soil
Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an annual with flowers that may be orange, yellow, or red. Let it trail over the edge of a container or allow it to scramble over the ground; climbing forms can use a support. The RHS gives 1.5–2.5 m for the height and spread of its strong-growing climber, while bush varieties are smaller.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Nasturtium performs best in full sun and poor, well-drained soil. The RHS notes that rich soil encourages foliage at the expense of flowers. Sow indoors in spring and plant outside after frost, or sow outdoors in late spring or early summer, adjusting for local frost dates. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Many annual varieties have edible flowers, leaves, seeds, and young flower buds, but verify the cultivar’s identity and growing conditions before eating any part of a plant.
Best Value
- Cold stratify: mix butterfly milkweed seeds with moist sand, refrigerate 30 days, then sow native milkweed seeds for planting just below surface. Native wildflower seeds germinate in 10-21 days.
- Monarch host plant: milkweed seeds for monarch butterflies thrive as perennial flower seeds in USDA zones 3-11; full sun to part sun, perfect for butterfly gardens, open fields & roadsides.
- Blazing orange blooms: butterfly milkweed flower seeds grow to 24 inches tall and bloom from early to late summer; attracts honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds - bright flower garden seeds to plant outside.
- Drought tolerant once established: native milkweed seeds, pollinator seeds, love sandy, well-drained soil; water young plants, avoid soggy beds. Space 12-24 inches; slow to bloom in 2-3 years.
- Cut-flower favorite: long vase life without milky sap. After bloom, 3-4 inch pods form; harvest of flowers seeds before split. It may self-sow if pods are left to open. The flowers of these perennial plants attract honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Where to plant each flower
- For a partly shaded bed: calendula or daylily can tolerate partial shade; daylily also needs room for its eventual height.
- For a sunny container: Tagetes fits a bedding display, while a trailing nasturtium can spill over the edge. Keep nasturtium in leaner soil than Tagetes.
- For a warm, sunny bed: zinnias offer upright summer color; space them according to the cultivar label.
- For a vertical feature: choose a climbing nasturtium and provide a support, checking the variety’s growth habit and dimensions first.
- For flowers that return: plant a daylily cultivar suited to your space and preferred bloom period.
RHS timing guidance is written for UK conditions, while Illinois Extension’s recommendations are regionally oriented. In other locations, follow local frost dates and growing guidance rather than copying a calendar date from another climate.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
