Marigold

Marigold (Tagetes erecta), also called African marigold or Mexican marigold, is an annual herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to Mexico and Central America. It grows 30–100 cm tall with a stout, branched stem; the pinnate leaves have serrated margins and oil-secreting glands with a characteristic pungent smell. The flower heads are fairly large (5–10 cm), yellow-orange or yellow, with ray florets around the disc florets. The fruit is a small dark-brown hairy achene. The flowers are rich in carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Today marigold is grown worldwide as an ornamental and useful plant, including in Vietnam.

Marigold is widely grown as an ornamental, especially for Vietnamese Tet and festivals, for garlands and decoration; in Mexico it is tied to the Day of the Dead. Because the flowers are rich in carotenoids they are extracted as a natural colourant for food and animal feed (giving a red colour to eggs and poultry) and as a lutein supplement for eye health; the petals are edible and used to garnish dishes. Its essential oil and root exudates repel insects and nematodes, so it is often intercropped to protect crops. In folk medicine the flowers are used for coughs, inflammation and skin conditions. The plant likes light, is easy to grow and flowers 2–3 months after sowing; it is propagated by seed or cuttings.