Mexican marigold, often called African marigold, is a tall garden plant with large, rounded yellow or orange flower heads. It is native to Mexico and Guatemala, despite the African name.
Appearance
- Growth form
- Cultivars range from about 1–4 ft (0.3–1.2 m) tall and usually have a strong upright habit.
- Leaves
- The aromatic leaves are deeply divided into narrow, toothed sections and may be opposite low on the stem and alternate above.
- Flowers
- Garden forms often carry large heads in yellow, orange, cream, or mixed shades. Some heads reach about 5 in (13 cm) across.
- Flowering time
- In much of the United States it flowers from summer until frost.
- Fruit
- The dry fruits are narrow, dark .
Look-alikes
French marigoldTagetes patula
Mexican marigold is strongly upright and may reach 3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m), with flower heads up to about 5 in (13 cm) wide. French marigold is usually a compact 6–12 in (15–30 cm) plant with flowers up to about 2 in (5 cm) wide.
Why they get mixed upBoth are common garden marigolds with aromatic divided leaves and yellow or orange flowers.
pot marigoldCalendula officinalis
Pot marigold has broad, undivided leaves. Mexican marigold has deeply divided leaves and usually fuller, rounder flower heads.
Why they get mixed upBoth may be sold as marigolds and have yellow or orange flowers.
| Leaves | Flower head | |
|---|---|---|
| Mexican marigold | deeply divided | large, often round head |
| French marigold | deeply divided | smaller head |
| pot marigold | undivided | often daisy-like head |
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- garden beds
- borders
- containers
- Range
- It is native from Mexico to Guatemala. In the United States, gardeners grow it as a summer , including in Minnesota and North Carolina.
- Preferred conditions
- Full sun gives the best flowering. It accepts several soil types but prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil.
Growing it
- Propagation
- It is most often grown from seed after frost danger has passed.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Mexican marigold is also used for Tagetes minuta, a different species with much smaller flower heads. Check the scientific name on a plant label.
- Varieties and forms
- Many cultivars differ in height, flower size, and shades of yellow, orange, cream, and reddish brown. Large double-flowered forms are especially common in gardens.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed