Abstract: Plant growth, dry matter accumulation and its partitioning to different plant parts were studied in two cultivars of African marigold (Tagetes erecta) and three cultivars of French marigold (Tagetes patula). The cultivars of both African and French types differed significantly in dry matter production. In the African type, Golden Age recorded higher dry matter, while in the French type the maximum dry matter was accumulated by the Harvest Moon cultivar. The difference in the total yield is attributed to the variation in the growth components.