Mexican Marigold

Tagetes erecta

perennial☀️ full sun💧💧 moderate waterZone 2a – Zone 11b

A vibrant annual marigold with large, densely petaled flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red. It blooms prolifically in full sun and is easy to grow, making it a popular choice for borders, containers, and cutting gardens.

Overview

Form: Upright
Growth Rate: fast
Size: 1.5–3′ tall × 1–1.5′ wide
Dormancy: deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 2a

Zone 11b

Seasonality

Bloom Season

Harvest Season

Season of Interest

SummerFall

Forest Layer Placement

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native Range

Mexico

Function & Care

Functional Roles

medicinalpollinator nectarywildlife benefit

Edible Parts

flower

Establishment & Care

Establishment: easy
Maintenance: low
Propagation: seed

Companion Planting

Plants well with

common comfrey

Symphytum officinale

Verified

Tagetes produces alpha-terthienyl, a nematicidal compound that suppresses soil nematode populations, protecting root systems of nearby perennial plants including comfrey.

tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Verified

Tagetes erecta roots exude alpha-terthienyl and thiophene derivatives that suppress root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), a verified, replicated companion planting benefit for solanaceous crops including tomato.