Pollinator plant

French marigold

Tagetes patula

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Common names

35 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Afrikaantje
  • Kleine afrikaantje[3][5]
Arabic
  • مخملية منتشرة[5]
  • مخملية منفتحة[5]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • aksamitník rozkladitý[5]
Finnish
  • ryhmäsamettikukka[5]
German
  • Ausgebreitete Studentenblume[4]
  • Gewöhnliche Samtblume[3][5]
Hebrew
  • טגטס מפושק[5]
Hungarian
  • törpe bársonyvirág[5]
Japanese
  • クジャクソウ[5]
  • コウオウソウ[5]
  • フレンチ・マリーゴールド[5]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • マンジュギク[5]
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Gvazdikinis serentis[5]
Nahuatl
  • tecacayactli[5]
Polish
  • aksamitka rozpierzchła[5]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Бархатцы мелкоцветные[5]
Slovak
  • aksamietnica rozložitá[5]
Spanish
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Swedish
  • sammetsblomster[5]
Turkish
  • Fransız Kadife Çiçeği[5]
Ukrainian
  • Чорнобривці розлогі[5]
Language not specified
  • Susi (Trinidad & Tobago)[4]
Sources & name notes (5)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Tagetes patula — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • French Marigold — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Tagetes patula.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • French marigold — Page 5, column 1, row top 187 pt; common-name cell after Tagetes patula.; Tagetes patula.
[3] Tagetes patula — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • French marigold — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Gewöhnliche Samtblume — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • clavel de moro — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • clemolito — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Tagete — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Kleine afrikaantje — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Cravo-de-defunto — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
[4] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Tagetes erecta ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • French Marigold (EN); Clavelitos de muerto — VernacularName.tsv, line 140802; taxon 54JQL.
  • Ruda del pasto (ES); Ausgebreitete Studentenblume (DE); Pot Marigold — VernacularName.tsv, line 140803; taxon 54JQL.
  • Stinking Suzy — VernacularName.tsv, line 140804; taxon 54JQL.
  • Susi (Trinidad & Tobago) — VernacularName.tsv, line 140805; taxon 54JQL.
[5] Tagetes patula — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • French marigold — results[12].names[3]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Gewöhnliche Samtblume — results[12].names[11]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • clavel de moro — results[12].names[2]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • clemolito — results[12].names[15]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Tagete — results[12].names[12]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Kleine afrikaantje — results[12].names[27]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Cravo-de-defunto — results[12].names[21]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • tecacayactli — results[12].names[1]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • フレンチ・マリーゴールド — results[12].names[4]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • コウオウソウ — results[12].names[5]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • クジャクソウ — results[12].names[6]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • マンジュギク — results[12].names[7]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • aksamitník rozkladitý — results[12].names[8]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • ryhmäsamettikukka — results[12].names[9]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Бархатцы мелкоцветные — results[12].names[10]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Gvazdikinis serentis — results[12].names[13]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • 孔雀草 — results[12].names[14]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • 만수국 — results[12].names[16]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • sammetsblomster — results[12].names[17]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • 孔雀草 — results[12].names[18]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Чорнобривці розлогі — results[12].names[19]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • טגטס מפושק — results[12].names[20]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • مخملية منفتحة — results[12].names[22]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • مخملية منتشرة — results[12].names[23]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • törpe bársonyvirág — results[12].names[24]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • aksamietnica rozložitá — results[12].names[25]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • aksamitka rozpierzchła — results[12].names[26]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
  • Fransız Kadife Çiçeği — results[12].names[28]; taxon id 777243; Tagetes patula.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Tagetes patula as a synonym of Tagetes erecta.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Asteraceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.15–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
0.15–0.46 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Clumping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Annual

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [3]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Autumn; Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Tagetes patula in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [4]
Native range
Mexico to Guatemala.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [5]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

French marigold (Tagetes patula) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to October.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Tagetes patula — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2680332; ID 7BHRH; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Tagetes erecta — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1334052; ID 54JQL; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1334052; ID 54JQL; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Tagetes patula — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 1, entry Tagetes patula (top 187 pt)

    Source checked on .

  5. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Tagetes erecta — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 252635, 252796; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1506416, 1506417, 1506418, 1506419, 1506420, 1506421, 1506425

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.