Practical
Plants

Tagetes patula

French Marigold

an annual member of the Tagetes genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Tagetes
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers are used in refreshing drinks[3][6]. The leaves are used as a food flavouring[6][11]. No further details are given. The essential oil is used as a food flavouring, though it is inferior to the oil obtained from T. minuta[11]. The dried flowers are an adulterant of saffron(Crocus sativus), used for colouring foods yellow[6][11].

Product or use
Colouring
Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Drink

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole herb is aromatic, digestive, diuretic and sedative[11]. It is used internally in the treatment of indigestion, colic, severe constipation[11], coughs and dysentery[10]. Externally, it is used to treat sore eyes and rheumatism[11]. The leaves are harvested as required for immediate use during the growing season, whilst the flowering plant can be dried and stored for later use[11].

Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs[4][8][9][10]. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[9]. The whole plant is harvested when in flower and distilled for its essential oil[10][11].The oil is used in perfumery, it is blended with sandalwood oil to produce 'attar genda' perfume[11]. About 35 kilos of oil can be extracted from 1 hectare of the plant (yielding 2,500 kilos of flowers and 25,000 kilos of herbage)[10]. The whole plant contains substances that are toxic to cockroaches[10]. The growing plant repels whitefly and can be grown near tomatoes to keep that crop free of the insect[4][8]. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers[2]. It is used to colour foods and textiles[11]. The flowers are sometimes used as an adulterant of saffron (obtained from Crocus sativus)[11].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Southern N. America - Mexico.
Habitat
The pine-oak forest zone[5]. Naturalized in California where it grows on waste ground[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[9]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[7]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[7]. A good butterfly plant[13]. Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[7]. The bruised leaves emit a refreshing pungent smell[12]. Plants are prone to slugs, snails and botrytis[7]. The French marigold is often used as a companion plant, especially for growing amongst tomatoes and potatoes where it helps to repel pests[11]. See 'Other uses' below for more details.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

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  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  4. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962-00-00

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  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

  12. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  13. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

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  14. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

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