Signet Marigold Tagetes tenuifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- TAG-e-teez ten-yoo-iff-FOLE-lee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Wild marigold in the daisy family. Leaves are pinnately divided producing a fern-like effect, foliage diseases may develop in hot, wet weather. It is often planted as a companion plant in vegetable gardens. Water regularly but do not overwater. Withstands a wide variety of soils and soil pH but will not tolerate shade.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Snails, slugs and botrytis.
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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- 'Golden Gem'
- 'Lemon Gem'
Yellow flowers - 'Orange Gem'
Bright orange flowers
- 'Golden Gem'
- 'Golden Gem', 'Lemon Gem', 'Orange Gem'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Golden Gem'
- 'Lemon Gem'
Yellow flowers - 'Orange Gem'
Bright orange flowers
- 'Golden Gem'
- 'Golden Gem', 'Lemon Gem', 'Orange Gem'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tagetes
- Species:
- tenuifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Peru
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Rounded
- 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)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Tufted seeds
-
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Dried
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Blooms from early summer to fall deadhead to promote longer bloom period. Prolific bloomer though the flowers are smaller than African or French marigolds.
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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:
- Filiform
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Lacy fern-like gland-dotted and aromatic; leaves opposite or alternate above, pinnately lobed and appearing divided, the lobes narrow and toothed. Gland dotted and aromatic similar to lemon verbena when bruised.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Insect Pests
