Tagetes minuta aka Wild Marigold

Tagetes minuta is an annual herb in the daisy family. Common names include southern marigold and stinking Roger. It comes from subtropical South America, from Brazil southwards. It now grows beyond its native range. Plants have escaped gardens in Australia and Hawaii. It also grows wild in southern Europe. There, it grows on waste land and cultivated ground.

This upright plant grows fast and has a strong scent. Young plants tend to have a single, unbranched stem. Larger plants branch as they grow. Garden heights range from 4.9–8.2 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. Some accounts give a shorter height of 3.9 feet [1.2 metres]. Plants spread about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. The leaves have deep divisions and release an aromatic scent. Small white flower heads have yellow centres. Insects pollinate the flowers. Seeds need a long growing season to ripen. They cling to animal hair, which helps them spread.

Grow it in full sun and soil that drains well. It suits soil with moderate fertility and some moisture. It grows in clay, loam, or sand. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H2. It tolerates cool weather but does not survive freezing. PFAF lists USDA zones 8–11. In temperate gardens, growers treat it as a half-hardy annual. Raise new plants from seed; routine pruning is not needed. Removing spent flowers can prolong flowering.

It suits beds, borders, and informal gardens. Growers also use it as a companion plant. Its roots release substances reported to suppress nematodes and some weeds. PFAF says these effects start three to four months after sowing. The plant may also inhibit nearby plants. RHS reports few pest or disease problems. Useful Tropical Plants lists slugs, snails, and botrytis as risks. Outside gardens, it can become a serious weed. In parts of Hawaii, it forms dense cover at higher elevations.

Dried leaves season soups and vegetables with an apple-like taste. Oil distilled from flowering plants also serves as a food flavouring. Sources report traditional uses for digestive trouble and intestinal worms. They also record external use for skin complaints. These reports do not establish safe or effective treatment. The sap can irritate skin and cause dermatitis. RHS advises gloves and protective clothing when handling the plant.