Signet Marigold Tagetes tenuifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Tagetes erecta
- Phonetic Spelling
- TAG-e-teez ten-yoo-iff-FOLE-lee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Lemon marigold is an attractive, flowering perennial or annual in the aster family. It is often grown for its ornamental value and the foliage, when crushed, is more aromatic than most other plants. The lemon-like smell can remain for an hour or more after touching the plant. Remove dead flowers before seeds form to extend the flowering season. It is often planted as a companion plant in vegetable gardens and grows well with tomatoes.
Lemon marigold does well in a wide variety of soils, well-drained and fertile, including clay, but will not tolerate shade. It can tolerate some dry conditions, but prefers a moist, well-drained environment. Water regularly but do not overwater. It will grow best from seed that you can start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date and is also available as plants in six packs from local nurseries. Set plants out after the last frost date. Plant taller varieties deep in sites protected from strong wind or heavy rain to minimize the need for stem support.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to snails, slugs and botrytis.
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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- '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
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Popular in the cut flower trade.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Peru
- Distribution:
- Southern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Edibility:
- The flowers of some cultivars have a pleasant citrus-like flavour and can be used sparingly as a flavouring or as a garnish.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Tufted seeds
-
-
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 Size:
- 1-3 inches
- 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.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Filiform
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- 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.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stem is striated, sometimes ridged, smooth or slightly with villi, cylindrical, oval and herbaceous to slightly woody, with resin channels in the bark, which are aromatic when squeezed.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Insect Pests
