Sweet-Scented Marigold
Other names
Death Flower, Sweet Mace, Sweet-Scented Mexican Marigold
Growth habit
Herbaceous
Perennation
Cultivated as annual
Native distribution
Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Biocultural value
Leaves and flowers have a strong anise flavor and can be used as a tarragon substitute. In India marigold flowers are offered to the goddess Bhagwati during the fall Navrati festival.
Location
Source of plant
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Description
Glabrous perennial, 30-80cm, with a thick woody base. Stems branched above, striate. Leaves 4-10cm, opposite, more or less sessile, narrowly lanceolate, usually blunt, sharply toothed, lower teeth hair-tipped, glandular. Capitula 1cm diameter, many, in flat cymose inflorescence; peduncles very short; involucre 9-10x2-3mm, cylindrical, phyllaries 5-7, apex awl-shaped; ray florets usually 3, yellow, disc florets 5-7. Fruit 6-7mm, grooved; pappus scales 5-6, 2 bristle-like, 5mm, remainder oblong, c2mm, blunt.
USDA Hardiness Zone
9
Special characteristics
tender perennial, food, other ethnobotanical uses