Mexican marigold
Tagetes minuta

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 1-2 m high. The stems are ribbed. The leaves are compound and alternate or opposite. They are 10-12 cm long with 3-9 leaflets. The leaflets are 1-8 cm long by 5-9 mm wide. The flowers occur in a panicle of heads at the end of the branches or in the axils of leaves. The flower heads are 2-5 mm across. They are white and yellow in the centre. The fruit is a black nut. It is 5-8 mm long. It is hairy.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 950 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2.500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Caucasus, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Congo DR, Cyprus, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Greece, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norfolk Is., North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Reunion, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South America (country/location of origin), South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are dried and used to make a tea. The are also added to tea to increase the flavour. The dried plant is also added to rice dishes and stews for flavouring. CAUTION: The oil Tagetes oil is poisonous due to tagetone. The plant should probably only ever be used very sparingly

It is widely cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anisillo, Aztec marigold, Chilca, Chil chil, Chinchilla, Chuquilla, Comi, Cravo-de-defunto, Dwarf marigold, Kakiebos, K'axtr'u, Manzanilla, Menta americana, Muster John-Henry, Stinking-Roger, Suico, Tzenguene, Tzintzo, Wild marigold, Zwdearem

Synonyms

Tagetes bonariensis Pers.; Tagetes glandulifera Schrank; Tagetes glandulosa Link.; and others