Tagetes
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TAG-e-teez
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Edible: Flowers are bitter with a spicy, herbal flavor. "Lemon Gem' and 'Tangerine Gem' are quite flavorful. Remove the bitter, white base of the petal. May be harmful if eaten in large amounts. Use in tea. to color foods. and as a substitute for tarragon.
Wildlife Value: This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tagetes
- Species:
- spp.
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Houseplant or interiorscape; landscape in flower gardens as tender, herbaceous annual.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, Guatamala
- Wildlife Value:
- Seldom damaged by deer
- Edibility:
- Lemon Gem’ and ‘Tangerine Gem’ have the best flavor; remove the bitter, white base of the petal. May be harmful if eaten in large amounts. Used in tea, coloring foods, substitute for tarragon.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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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
