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.
Tagetes erecta
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 12-48 inches 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.
Annual
Full sun / Part shade
Low water
Zones 2a-11b
Climate: moderate
Border
Focal point
Container
Pollinator
Tagetes patula
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 6-12 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.
Annual
Full sun
Moderate water
Zones 2a-11b
Climate: moderate
Border
Container
Filler