Plant Profile: Tagetes patula (French Marigold)
Posted: July 16th, 2013, 8:41 pm
| Botanical Name | Tagetes patula |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Genus | Tagetes |
| Specie | patula |
| Local Name in Urdu | جافری |
| Common Name | Marigold, French Marigold |
| Life Cycle | Annuals |
| Fragrant or Not | No but foliage is aromatic |
| Category(Bush/Vine/Tree) | small annual plant |
| Height | 6-12 in. |
| Spacing | 3-6 in. |
| Flowering Months | fall |
| Flower Color | Scarlet (Dark Red) Orange Red-Orange Gold (Yellow-Orange) Bright Yellow and bicolors |
| Growing Areas | All Pakistan |
| Frost Tender | yes |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Soil pH | tolerent |
| Propagation | by seeds |
| Uses | ornamental bedding plant,medicinal ,The plant is used in companion planting for many vegetable crops. Its root secretions are believed to kill nematodes in the soil and it is said to repel harmful insects, such as white flies on tomatoes |
| Other Details | French marigolds comes in many varieties in colors from yellow and gold to orange and red. Flowers may be a single color or bi-colored in small single blooms to larger semi-double or double blooms. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) only grows to about 12 inches tall..Used mainly as an edging plant on herbaceous borders, it is a low-growing plant with flowers of blended red and yellow in most varieties. French marigolds are commonly planted in butterfly gardens as a nectar source.Deadhead to prolong flowering. Pinch to keep bushy.Marigolds thrive in any soil type as long as it drains well. These prolific bloomers make good container and window box plants. You can fill in flowerbeds or use French marigolds as edging for a flower garden. Because they're low-growing, French marigolds are versatile enough to line a pathway or walkway. A French marigold prefers full sun to bloom continuously. They will have far fewer blooms if you plant them in a partially shaded area. Space marigold plants about six to eight inches apart in all directions. This spacing allows the plants enough space to grow and fill the area between plants so there are no bare spots. French marigolds are hardy and are not bothered by most diseases and insects except in dry conditions. You can water marigolds from above with a garden hose to wash most pests away. |
