<p>Pollen shape has been utilized as a taxonomic attribute since it is thought to be the most constant trait within a plant species. The African marigold (<i>Tagetes erecta</i> L.) has substantial variability within the species due to its wider adaptability to various agroclimatic conditions; thus, from a palynological perspective, this species is interesting for studying the variation in its pollen grains. As marigold is a commercial flower crop, the breeding program involves multiple flower forms within the species. Therefore, the study aimed to characterize the typical pollen grain features of marigold and assess the potential variation in pollen morphology across different flower forms for possible gametophytic selection in breeding programs. Pollen grains of nine African marigold genotypes with six different flower forms were imaged using a scanning electron microscope to study their characteristic features. The pollen grains across <i>Tagetes erecta</i> genotypes were found to be radially symmetrical, isopolar monads that were oblate spheroidal and suboblate in shape with tricolporate apertures and with echinate erections on the pollen wall. Significant differences were recorded between the genotypes and flower forms for all the pollen morphological traits studied. The variability observed among the pollen grain populations within the genotypes for certain morphometric traits also suggested the potential of using gametophytic selection in marigold breeding programs. Although it is important to establish pollen traits for commercial hybridization programs, little information is available, and to our knowledge, this is the first report on characteristic pollen grain features in African marigolds. </p>