Green Grass Grove
Connecting specimen records, habitat data, and the living archive.
Marigold / African
Tagetes erectaMarigold / African (Tagetes erecta) is an Asteraceae profile documenting accepted identity, ecology, cultivation, propagation, safety, legal boundaries, and North Florida relevance.
Botanical Overview
Marigold / African (Tagetes erecta) is an Asteraceae profile documenting accepted identity, ecology, cultivation, propagation, safety, legal boundaries, and North Florida relevance.
Ethnobotanical, Bioactive & Cultural Documentation
Ornamental bedding, cut flowers, cultural displays, pigment research, and pollinator support.
Entheogenic documentation source note: not applicable
Strong cultural and ceremonial history in Mexico and elsewhere; document without overgeneralizing.
Flower pigments include carotenoids such as lutein; foliage contains aromatic compounds.
Authoritative source ledger: KEW-T-ERECTA, CLEMSON-MARIGOLDS. Claims are bounded to the cited fields and do not authorize medical, pesticide, or commercial use.
Ordinary ornamental cultivation is generally lawful. Commercial pigment, feed, food, or pesticidal claims require applicable compliance.
Why We Feature This Specimen
Marigold / African connects taxonomy, cultivation, ecological function, and safe specimen stewardship inside 3G-GroveOS.
Climate & Protection
Heat protection trigger: Begin shade, cooling, irrigation, airflow, or relocation measures above 95 °F. The heat-damage threshold is the higher temperature where injury becomes likely.
Sun / Light: Full sun for compact growth and flowering.
Best in warm weather; growth slows below 50°F.
Greenhouse threshold guidance: Protect below 40°F; transplant after frost risk.
Heat-zone and verification notes
Not assigned; use crop-specific heat and seasonal guidance.
Planting & Seasonal Guide
Starting & Germination Methods
Seed Sowing
Seed sowing is the umbrella operational method for placing botanical seed into a germination environment. It includes selection of containers or beds, medium, depth, spacing, moisture, temperature, light,…
Open Full Method ↗Direct Sowing
Direct sowing is the establishment of plants by sowing seed outdoors or into the final production bed rather than transplanting nursery-grown seedlings. It is a complete site operation…
Open Full Method ↗Sow or transplant after frost danger; in North Florida, spring through early fall with summer disease monitoring.
Spacing: 25–45 cm, cultivar dependent
Planting Depth: 6 mm (1/4 in) or lightly covered.
Pollination: Insect-pollinated; cultivated doubles vary in fertility.
Water, Soil & Nutrition
💧 Water & Moisture
Water deeply when the upper soil dries; avoid saturated crowns and frequent foliage wetting.
Moderate; drought tolerant after establishment but flowers best with regular water.
Tolerates humidity with spacing and airflow.
🌱 Soil & Growing Media
Preferred pH: 5.80 to 7.20
↘ Drainage & Root-Zone Behavior
✦ Nutrition & Deficiency Checks
Moderate fertility; excessive nitrogen reduces bloom and weakens stems.
Diagnose pH, drainage, root health, and nutrient history before correcting chlorosis or weak growth.
Growth, Maintenance & Harvest
Maintenance & Pruning
Deadhead and pinch young plants for branching; stake very tall cultivars if needed.
Harvest or Observation
Harvest flowers for display or approved food-color uses only from correctly identified, unsprayed material.
Storage & Preservation
Dry seed thoroughly and store cool; cut flowers store briefly under clean cool conditions.
Harvestable Plant Parts & Uses
Harvest flowers for display or approved food-color uses only from correctly identified, unsprayed material.
Propagation, Cloning & Tissue Culture
Propagation Methods
Seed
Seed is retained as an umbrella propagation identity for sexual reproduction through mature botanical seed. A seed normally contains an embryo, stored reserves or nutritive tissue, and protective…
Open Full Method ↗Profile-Specific Procedure
Preserve true-to-name labels, use clean tools, and quarantine vegetatively propagated material.
Tissue Culture & Laboratory Notes
Not routinely required; specialist laboratory propagation is accession dependent.
Aquaponics, Hydroponics & Aeroponics
Aquaponics
No profile-specific aquaponic production protocol verified.
Hydroponics
- Target pH5.8–6.5
- Target EC1.2–2.0 mS/cm
No validated profile-specific hydroponic protocol.
Aeroponics
No profile-specific operating notes have been recorded.
Pests, Diseases, Safety & Toxicology
Spider mites, thrips, aphids, leafminers, and caterpillars.
Botrytis, Alternaria leaf spot, bacterial leaf spot, damping-off, and root rots.
Full sun, drainage, moderate fertility, deadheading, and sanitation are the core controls.
Primary risks: Botrytis, Alternaria leaf spot, bacterial leaf spot, damping-off, and root rots. Full sun, drainage, moderate fertility, deadheading, and sanitation are the core controls.
Contact with aromatic foliage may irritate sensitive skin. Edibility varies by species, cultivar, tissue, and pesticide history.
Confirm identity, provenance, pesticide history, intended use, and jurisdictional restrictions. Keep concentrated preparations and unsupported medicinal claims outside this profile.