Gibraltar

A 2023 staff favorite! Flower heads up to 1.5" wide with 5 velvet mahogony ray florets and a thin gold line tracing the margin. The donor, Steve, describes this fine line, "as if inlaid by a jeweler/goldsmith,” and we couldn't have said it better. When turned upside down, these florets are solid gold. A striking, vibrant yellow pom-pom sits in the center, beckoning to pollinators and gardeners alike. Semi-upright growth habit. Plants average 2' tall. High vigor and all-season blooms when grown in 2023 at Heritage Farm. During a vacation to Europe in 2000, Steve Morrison (CA MO S) of Riverside, California, was walking through ‘Grand Casemates Square’ in Gibraltar, British Overseas Territory, when he ran into “this unique and beautiful marigold among marigolds” growing in a planter box. Steve noticed a seed pod or two had dropped from the plants, so he picked them up and took them home with him. He’s been growing and saving seeds of this variety since then. Steve believes he’s the only person growing and saving seeds from this variety in America. He fears it will disappear if not distributed to other growers. Steve began sharing this variety on the Exchange in 2014 and donated seeds to SSE in 2020. SSE Accession # 133769