In temperate regions like western Washington, the humble marigold is a common sight at garden centers from spring through fall. Beloved by gardeners around the world for their easy care and bright flowers, the cultural significance of marigolds can go unnoticed, as can the plant’s natural pest-control properties in the vegetable garden. Read on to discover basic facts about marigolds, their significance in Día de los Muertos and Diwali, two autumnal festivals connected by their use of marigolds, and how marigolds function as a companion plant within vegetable gardens.
The Basics of Marigolds
Marigolds (genus Tagetes, part of the family Asteraceae) are native to the Americas, ranging from the southwestern United States down through Central America and as far south as Argentina. The center of diversity of marigold species is central Mexico. The three most common types of marigolds in cultivation are the French marigold (Tagetes patula), the African marigold (Tagetes erecta), and the Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia). All three varieties are best grown in moderately fertile, well-draining soil in full sun. Marigolds grown in shadier locations or in denser, wetter soils will bloom less and are more prone to diseases like powdery mildew. While they are annual plants that die with freezing temperatures, they bloom profusely through the growing season—often all the way up until a frost.
The French marigold (Tagetes patula) is a compact species, typically growing between 8-12” in height. The flowers can be single or double and come in a wide variety of bright colors, including red, orange, yellow, and multi-color hybrids. Like other marigold species, T. patula has a distinctive pungent aroma, which arises from essential oils produced in the stems, leaves, and flowers.
The African marigold (Tagetes erecta) is larger than the French marigold, growing between 1-4’ depending on the cultivar. The flowers are also much larger than the French marigold, with a distinctive globular shape that come in shades of orange, yellow, and cream. The flowers, stems, and leaves are strongly scented.
The Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) has smaller flowers and leaves than the other marigold varieties, as well as a mounding habit. The flowers are single and usually come in yellow or orange. Signet marigolds lack the strong, pungent aroma of other marigolds, instead possessing a lighter scent more akin to citrus.
Marigolds in Mexican culture
Marigolds have long been cultivated by indigenous Central American peoples for their beauty and utility. The leaves and flowers are edible, and the flowers are used to make yellow and orange dyes. The essential oils produced by marigolds are used both for their fragrance and as a component in traditional medicines. Marigolds have also held ritual significance throughout Mexican history, from pre-colonial Aztec and Mayan societies to modern Mexico today.
In Mexico, the marigold (especially Tagetes erecta, or the African marigold) is called flor de muertos (Spanish for “flower of the dead”) or cempasúchil (pronounced semp-uh-SOO-sheel). The latter name is derived from a Nahuatl (Aztec) word meaning twenty flower, describing the densely ruffled texture of the large flowers.
The plant is emblematic of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), observed annually between November 1-2 throughout Mexico and in the Mexican diaspora. Día de los Muertos is meant to commemorate and celebrate the dead and reaffirm connections to one’s ancestors. The holiday is distinctly Mexican but has historical and cultural connections to Indigenous harvest festivals and the Catholic feast days of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
In pre-colonial times, cempasúchil represented sun and light, and the flowers’ vibrant colors and potent scent were believed to act as a guide for the souls of the dead. The mystical connection between marigolds and the afterlife persists in modern Mexican observations of Día de los Muertos, with marigold flowers decorating cemeteries, homes, and ofrendas (altars) devoted to a family’s ancestors. Pathways of cempasúchil petals, laid out meticulously from cemeteries into homes, help guide the souls of lost loved ones to the ofrendas of their earthly families.
Marigolds in Indian culture
Half a world away from their native home in Mexico, marigolds play a prominent role in cultural traditions on the Indian subcontinent. Brought to South Asia by Spanish and Portuguese traders in the 16th century, the marigold was widely adopted across India for its fragrance, bright color, and ease of care. Today, the flower is used throughout South Asia in conjunction with (or has outright replaced) native flowers such as the calendula. Flower vendors string hundreds of marigold blossoms together into radiant garlands that are hung in doorways or worn for significant events, such as religious rituals, weddings, or political functions. The flowers represent passion, creativity, and positive energy. Marigolds have a host of different names throughout India, though one common name is genda.
The flower has particular significance within Diwali, a five-day festival observed annually in autumn. Exact dates are determined by the Hindu lunar calendar, falling somewhere between mid-September and mid-November. Diwali is a major holiday within several different religions originating in South Asia, including Sikhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Though it has complex layers of religious significance that vary across different places and cultural groups, the essence of Diwali is a representation of the triumph of knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness. The bright, sunny blossoms of the marigold have become a perfect floral emblem for the Festival of Lights.
Marigolds as a companion plant
Beyond their potent religious and cultural significance, marigolds play an important role in the vegetable garden. Across the world, Tagetes species are prized as companion plants. The flowers of all three common species–T. patula (the French marigold), T. erecta (the African marigold), and T. tenuifolia (the Signet marigold) are edible and can be used in salads, to adorn desserts, or even as a natural food coloring. The bright flowers are also an excellent way to attract pollinators to your garden, acting as beacons to insects like bees that will go on to visit vegetable plants with flowers that are less obvious to pollinators.
Common garden lore suggests that marigolds repel insect pests like whiteflies and aphids (or even larger pests like deer and rabbits), though these claims do not have consistent enough results to be considered fact. However, marigolds are a proven natural control method for a species of soil-borne nematode that attacks members of the squash family (including melons and cucumbers) and members of the nightshade family (including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant).
Root-knot nematodes invade the root systems of these plants, causing the plants to form galls on their roots that weaken their ability to absorb water and nutrients. Marigold roots release a chemical into the soil that inhibits the life cycle of root-knot nematodes. Planting rows of marigolds between squash or nightshade plants can head off a potential infestation, or greatly reduce the population of root-knot nematodes if planted en masse the season after an unsuccessful harvest in an infested area. Learn more about Companion Planting.
The marigold is much more than a beautiful garden flower. Its utility as a colorful annual, edible flower, and companion plant for vegetable gardens is greatly enhanced by its profound role in religious and cultural practices around the world. Whether called cempasúchil, flor de muertos, genda, or something else, the marigold has near-universal appeal. Every autumn, marketplaces from Mexico City to Mumbai are festooned by the fragrant blossoms of marigolds to commemorate the dead, channel light, and celebrate life.