French Marigold

Tagetes patula

Asteraceae (Daisy)

More than pretty — a dense planting suppresses root-knot nematodes in the soil while feeding pollinators.

Cover cropPollinatorBuilds soilBeginner-friendlyWe sell it

French Marigold (Tagetes patula) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun

Water

Low

Soil

Average

pH

6.0–7.5

Hardiness

Warm-season annual

Height

8–18 in

Spacing

8–10 in

Days to harvest

50–60 to bloom

What it is

French Marigold (Tagetes patula) is in the Asteraceae (Daisy) family. More than pretty — a dense planting suppresses root-knot nematodes in the soil while feeding pollinators.

How to grow it

It wants full sun, water it low, and give it average soil. Target a soil pH around 6.0–7.5. Space plants about 8–10 in apart. Expect roughly 50–60 to bloom. Warm-season annual.

How it's used

French Marigold is used: cover; companion; flowers edible.

🔎 How to identify it

Ferny aromatic leaves
Orange/yellow/red flowers
Bushy compact habit

Edibility

PartsPetals (edible)

UsesCover; companion; flowers edible

CautionMainly grown for nematode suppression and color.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.