Tall Mexican native annual with dense double yellow or orange pom-pom flower heads. The principal natural source of dietary lutein (the yellow colour of egg yolks in caged-hen production) and a strong textile dye.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 2–11 | −45.6 °C to 10 °C | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| RHS hardiness rating | H2 | 1 °C to 5 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 2–9 | −40 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–7 | −15 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
As a tender annual, Aztec marigold doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.
Growing notes
- Yellow-to-orange dye extracted from the flowers — used for both textile dyeing and as a feed additive that yellows the skin and egg yolks of poultry (the source of the deep yellow yolks of factory-farmed eggs)
- Ceremonial flower of Mexican Día de los Muertos — the orange "cempasúchil" used to guide spirits home
- Distinct from French marigold (Tagetes patula, already in the database) — Aztec marigold is taller, larger-flowered, and the principal dye and feed-additive species
- Frost-tender — strictly warm-season annual
Pet caution: Aztec marigold is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.
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Related plants
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