Tagetes is a genus of annual or perennial, mostly herbaceous plants in the sunflower family. It was described as a genus by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The genus is native to North and South America, but some species became naturalized around the world.
No annual is more cheerful or easier to grow than the marigold. These flowers are the spendthrifts among annuals, bringing a wealth of gold, copper, and brass into our summer and autumn gardens. The flower’s popularity probably derives in part from its ability to bloom brightly all summer long. Marigolds have daisy- or carnation-like flowerheads that are produced singly or in clusters. Although there are some 50 species, most marigolds we see in the garden come from just three. Tagetes erecta are the tallest and most upright, reaching three to four feet in height. Bushy T. patula, aka French marigolds, are somewhat smaller and more compact. The dainty T. tenuifolia—known as signet marigolds—like hot, dry sites and make a wonderful edging.
