French Marigold


French Marigold

This is a genus of about 50 species of annuals and perennials, distributed mainly in tropical and warm parts of the Americas. Marigolds grown as bedding plants mostly come from two Mexican species: Tagetes erecta (African or Aztec marigold, cempazuchil) and T. patula (French marigold). Both have similar medicinal and culinary uses and feature in religious rituals in both Mexico and India; the association of T. patula with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in Mexico dates back to pre-Columbian ceremonies. Tagetes lucida was used to flavor chocólatl, the foaming, cocoa-based drink of the Aztecs. It is one of several Tagetes species that have a tarragon-like flavor including T. anisatum (anise marigold) and T. filifolia (Irish Lace Marigold, hierba anis). Other species with culinary uses have quite different aromas; T. lemmonii (Copper Canyon Daisy) has a lemon-mint scent; and in T. tenuifolia (signet marigold) the leaves and flowers smell like lemons. Tagetes minuta is grown mainly for medicinal purposes but also has unusual importance in horticulture, because of its root extracts, known as thiophenes; these sulphur compounds, inhibit the growth of nematodes (eelworms), which cause extensive damage to a wide range of cultivated plants. Thiophenes may also inhibit the growth of other plants-an effect that has been put to good use in the control of invasive weeds. Tagetes marigolds should not be confused with the pot or common marigold (Calendula officinales, See, Pot Marigold), which has quite different properties. Tagetes is name after Tages, an Etruscan deity, who sprang from the earth as is was plowed, and revealed the art of divination.

Bushy annual with aromatic, deeply divided, sharply toothed leaves, 5-10cm (2-4in) long. Yellow to orange or brown-red, or particolored flowers, 2.5-5cm (1-2in) across, are borne from early summer to autumn.


Common Name:
French Marigold
Botanical Name:
Tagetes patula
Genus:
Tagetes
Family:
Asteraceae
Native Location:
Mexico
Cultivation:
Well-drained, fertile soil in sun. Deadhead plants to prolong flowering. Botrytis and foot rot may affect plants. Tagetes minuta and, to a lesser extent, T. patula, are widely used in companion planting; the former has an irritant sap that may cause dermatitis; the latter is often used to repel soil nematodes, slugs, and whitefly from tomatoes, though cultivars vari in effectiveness.
Propagation:
By seed sown in spring, at 21°C (70°F)
Harvest:
Plants are cut when flowering and distilled for oil, or dried for infusions. Tagetes lucida and T. minuta are used in ointments for external use. Leaves (T. lucida, T. patula) and flowers (T. patula) are picked in summer for use either fresh or dried in infusions.
Height:
20-50cm (8-20in)
Width:
20-50cm (8-20in)
Variations:
Favourite Mixed
Is compact and floriferous, with single blooms in various colors and combinations.
Height: 50cm (20in)
Width: 50cm (20in)
Hardiness:
Frost Hardy to half hardy
Parts Used:
Whole Plant, leaves, flowers, oil.
Properties:
An aromatic, diuretic, calming herb that improves digestion. It is reputedly effective against a number of garden pests.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for indigestion. Externally for sore eyes and rheumatism.
Culinary Uses:
Dried flowers are used for flavoring in Georgia, especially in beef soup (kharcho), and in sauces based on walnuts and vinegar to prevent nuts from turning black; also to color butter and cheese.
Economic Uses:
Oil is blended with sandalwood oil in India to produce attar genda perfume. Dried flowers occur as an alterant of saffron (Crocus sativus, See, Saffron Crocus). Flower extracts give color to dairy products, poultry feed and textiles. Oil is used in food flavoring but is inferior to that of T. minuta.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp 379-380