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Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.

Comparing Strawflower vs. Black-Eyed Susan Vine vs. African Marigold

The comparison

Strawflower vs. Black-Eyed Susan Vine vs. African Marigold

Units
Growing facts for Strawflower, Black-Eyed Susan Vine and African Marigold, side by side
Fact
StrawflowerXerochrysum bracteatum
Black-Eyed Susan VineThunbergia alata
African MarigoldTagetes erecta
DifficultyEasyEasyEasy
Life cycleNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedAnnual
Germination time7–10 days10–21 days4–7 days
Germination temperature21–24 °C70–75 °FNot yet verified24–27 °C75–81 °F
Sowing depthOn the surfaceNot yet verified6 mm¼ in
Spacing between plantsNot yet verified36–41 cm14–16 inNot yet verified
SunFull sunFull sun, partial shadeFull sun, partial shade
WaterNot yet verifiedModerateModerate
ContainersYesYesYes
Frost toleranceNot yet verifiedTender (no frost)Tender (no frost)
Soil pHNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedpH 6.0–7.0
Links
How to grow strawflowerRemove strawflower
How to grow black-eyed susan vineRemove black-eyed susan vine
How to grow african marigoldRemove african marigold

Up close

Meet the seeds

What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.

  • Pink and white strawflowers with yellow centers growing on tall stems in a garden bedFlowers

    Strawflower

    Xerochrysum bracteatum

    Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots

    Strawflower is a sun-loving daisy from Australia prized for papery blooms that keep their color when dried. Seeds sprout in about 7 to 10 days in warm conditions and should be left uncovered.

    How to grow strawflower
  • Black-Eyed Susan Vine yellow flowers with dark centers growing over leaves in a mulched bedFlowers

    Black-Eyed Susan Vine

    Thunbergia alata

    Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots

    Black-eyed Susan vine is a fast-growing twining climber with orange or yellow flowers, usually grown as an annual from seed in full sun with a support to climb on.

    How to grow black-eyed susan vine
  • African marigold plants growing in a field with many orange pompom flowers under a cloudy skyFlowers

    African Marigold

    Tagetes erecta

    Difficulty: EasyGrows in pots

    African marigold is a tender annual grown from seed in full sun, with fragrant leaves and showy flowers that attract butterflies. It also grows well in containers.

    How to grow african marigold

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The table, row by row

How to read a comparison

Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.

  1. Sprouting

    Germination time and temperature

    How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.

  2. Sowing

    Sowing depth and spacing

    How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.

  3. Timing

    Days to maturity and life cycle

    How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.

  4. Light and water

    Sun and water

    Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.

  5. Space and weather

    Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH

    Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.

  6. Pets

    Toxicity to cats and dogs

    Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.

Quick wins

Fastest to sprout

Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.

Pet friendly

Safe around cats and dogs

Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.

Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.

Comparing

Questions about comparing

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Where do the facts come from?
From each seed's profile. Every fact there is researched and reviewed by our editors before it goes live.
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Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.

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