Plant · P-959

Marigold Dye

Tagetes minuta

Marigold Dye also called wild marigold or muster-john-henry is a strongly aromatic fast-growing annual native to South America and now naturalized as a weed across much of the world. Its roots secrete compounds that suppress nematodes slugs and perennial weeds which makes it a companion-planting and cover-crop staple and the essential oil distilled from the flowering plant repels insects and flavors food and drink. It wants full sun on well-drained soil and tolerates both dry and moist conditions once established. It self-sows in large numbers from a single plant so unmanaged stands spread quickly and its sap can irritate sensitive skin.