French Marigold Tagetes patula
- Phonetic Spelling
- tah-JEE-tees PAT-yoo-luh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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French Marigolds are compact bushy annuals from Mexico and the flowers come in various combinations of reds, oranges, and yellows. They need sun to partial sun in well-drained dry to moist soil. They will bloom the season-long if kept deadheaded of spent blooms. They are drought tolerant once established. The flowers and foliage have a pleasing or not so pleasing aroma and have been used to deter insects in the garden.
Great for beds, containers, or as an edging plant. They will attract pollinators to the garden. If planted in with the vegetables, chop up the plants and work into the soil once they are killed by frost to help deter nematodes.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Not generally a problem but 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 disorder. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- 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
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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
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Allelopathic
- Contact Dermatitis
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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
