Tagetes tenuifolia is an annual herb sometimes reaching as much as 50 cm (20 inches) tall. Leaves are less than 3 cm (1.2 inches) long, deeply divided into many small parts. The plant produces many small bright yellow flower heads in a flat-topped array, each head with 5 ray florets and 7-9 disc florets.
Marigold holds up well during the hot summer days in north Florida if watered regularly. Mites and worms destroy the foliage in central and south Florida during the summer. Too much watering may cause dwarf types to rot. Too much nitrogen or shade causes leafy plants with few flowers.
