It may seem like a common-or-garden annual to add to beds, borders and containers – but when it’s given such quirky names as Disco, Bojangle and Bonanza, it’s clear there’s more to the marigold than meets the eye.
Not to be confused with the calendula or ‘common marigold’, the marigold or tagetes, originates from central America and is considered sacred to the Aztecs. It is thought to help light the way for the departed and features heavily in Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations.
5 reasons to grow marigolds
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), who in recent years has trialled 140 varieties at RHS Garden Wisley in celebration this plant’s diversity, notes some of the marigold’s more novel global uses.
1. To keep gardens healthy
Companion planting is the term for plants that assist in the growth of others – be it repelling pests or providing nutrients. Although current knowledge is uncertain, the Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta) is sometimes used in an attempt to control root knot nematodes – worm-like animals found on the roots of some plants that can lead to stunted growth.
French marigold (Tagetes patula) and golden marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) cultivars, are also often planted alongside tomato plants in the hope of repelling whitefly.
2. To use as chicken feed
Marigold petals have long been used as a means to make egg yolks more vivid, because of their high levels of xanthophylls that result in yellow pigment. Chickens are also reported to love the tasty garden treat.
3. For use in the kitchen
Some marigolds – French marigold (Tagetes patula) and golden marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) – are fit for human consumption, but it’s highly advisable to only eat plants sold for this purpose. Because of their fresh, citrus taste, marigolds petals are sometimes recommended for adding sparingly to salads or appear for decorative effect on desserts. In the Americas, marigolds also come as a dried herb considered a suitable substitute for tarragon.
4. To ward off pests
Tagetes essential oil has a sweet and fruity odour that is thought to repel several parasitic insects that can prove pesky to humans, including mosquitoes, fleas, bed bugs, and lice. The flower is also found hanging from many a doorway in Asia to keep away intruders such as cockroaches, white ants or termites.
5. As a skin soother
Because tagetes essential oil is considered to have anti-microbial and antibiotic properties, it is often used as a treatment for minor open wounds, sores, cuts and ulcerated skin.
Read more – 5 of the best anti-viral herbs to grow at home.
