Tagetes patula
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tah-JEE-tees PAT-yoo-luh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
French marigold is a compact bushy annual in the aster family (Asteraceae) and native to Mexico and Guatemala. It is 6 to 12 inches high and 6 to 18 inches wide. The species epithet is Latin for “spreading.”
French marigold prefers full sun to partial shade in average, well-drained, evenly moist soil. It is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established. The flowers, which come in various combinations of reds, oranges and yellows and may be single, semi or fully double blooms, will bloom from spring into fall if kept deadheaded.
The flowers and foliage are fragrant and may be used to deter insects in the garden. If planted with vegetables as a pest deterrent, chop up the plant once it is killed by frost and work it into the soil to help deter nematodes.
French marigolds are great for beds, containers or as an edging plant in borders. It will attract pollinators to the garden and is a good addition to a butterfly, cutting, drought-tolerant, edible or children’s garden.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: It can be susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytis, leaf spot and rots. Spider mites and thrips may also be a problem. Some cultivars have shown good resistance to abiotic disorders. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alumia vanilla cream'
- 'Aurora orange'
- 'Bolero'
- 'Bonanza deep orange'
- 'Bonita mixed'
- 'Brocade Mix'
- 'Golden Boy'
- 'Ground Control'
- 'Janie Deep Orange'
Good resistance to abiotic disorder. - 'Janie Spry'
Good resistance to abiotic disorder.
- 'Alumia vanilla cream'
- 'Alumia vanilla cream', 'Aurora orange', 'Bolero', 'Bonanza deep orange', 'Bonita mixed', 'Brocade Mix', 'Golden Boy', 'Ground Control', 'Janie Deep Orange', 'Janie Spry'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alumia vanilla cream'
- 'Aurora orange'
- 'Bolero'
- 'Bonanza deep orange'
- 'Bonita mixed'
- 'Brocade Mix'
- 'Golden Boy'
- 'Ground Control'
- 'Janie Deep Orange'
Good resistance to abiotic disorder. - 'Janie Spry'
Good resistance to abiotic disorder.
- 'Alumia vanilla cream'
- 'Alumia vanilla cream', 'Aurora orange', 'Bolero', 'Bonanza deep orange', 'Bonita mixed', 'Brocade Mix', 'Golden Boy', 'Ground Control', 'Janie Deep Orange', 'Janie Spry'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tagetes
- Species:
- patula
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The plant is used in herbal medicine. The scent of foliage deters insects, roots exude a chemical that repels soil nematodes. The flowers can be used as a yellow dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, Guatamala
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer Resistant
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some cultivars have shown good resistance to abiotic disorder.
- Edibility:
- Flowers are used to make refreshing drinks and the leaves are used for flavoring.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Saucer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-2 inch wide flower heads are single, semi or fully double, or crested blooms that come in various color combinations of yellows, reds, and oranges.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately compound leaves are up to 6 inches long and have varying numbers of lance-shaped leaflets that are 2 or fewer inches long.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Allelopathic
- Contact Dermatitis
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Skin redness, burning pain, and blisters when broken skin is in contact with cell sap plus sunlight; nose and eye irritation from aroma of flowers.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Phototoxic thiophene derivatives
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
