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Genus

Tagetes

The Tagetes genus in the Plotwright catalog - 2 species: African marigold, French marigold. Open any for hardiness, native range, wildlife value, and growing guidance.

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Tall

Low

Full sun

Part shade

Low water

Moderate water

African marigold (Tagetes erecta) - large dense globe-shaped double flower head, deep orange color, finely divided pinnate foliage.

African marigold

A tall, bold warm-season annual from Mexico and Guatemala (the "African" name is a misnomer of its European garden history) grown for large, fully double, pompon-like flowerheads in saturated yellow, gold, and orange over strongly aromatic, finely divided foliage. Plants reach 1 to 4 feet and bloom from early summer to frost in full sun. The petals are edible and used as a culinary garnish and natural dye, and the flowers are the iconic "flor de muerto" of Mexican Day of the Dead. Despite the wide listed zone range it is frost-tender and grown for a single warm season.

Full sun / Part shade

Climate: moderate

French marigold (Tagetes patula) in bloom showing upright bushy habit with mahogany-and-gold bicolor flowerheads, buds, and finely divided pinnate toothed foliage.

French marigold

A compact, fast warm-season annual from Mexico and Guatemala (despite the "French" name) grown as bedding, edging, and container color. It typically reaches 6 to 12 inches tall with single to fully double, 1-2 inch fragrant flowerheads in yellow, orange, red, and bicolor over aromatic, deeply pinnate toothed foliage. Blooms June to frost in full sun, is low-maintenance, and is one of the few annuals deer tend to leave alone.

Climate: moderate