Lemon marigold is an attractive, flowering perennial or annual in the aster family. It is often grown for its ornamental value and the foliage, when crushed, is more aromatic than most other plants. The lemon-like smell can remain for an hour or more after touching the plant. Remove dead flowers before seeds form to extend the flowering season. It is often planted as a companion plant in vegetable gardens and grows well with tomatoes. Lemon marigold does well in a wide variety of soils, well-drained and fertile, including clay, but will not tolerate shade. It can tolerate some dry conditions, but prefers a moist, well-drained environment. Water regularly but do not overwater. It will grow best from seed that you can start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date and is also available as plants in six packs from local nurseries. Set plants out after the last frost date. Plant taller varieties deep in sites protected from strong wind or heavy rain to minimize the need for stem support. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to snails, slugs and botrytis. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Tagetes .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Filiform; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Lacy fern-like gland-dotted and aromatic; leaves opposite or alternate above, pinnately lobed and appearing divided, the lobes narrow and toothed. Gland dotted and aromatic similar to lemon verbena when bruised.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy; Variegated
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Dried; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Blooms from early summer to fall, deadhead to promote longer bloom period. Prolific bloomer though the flowers are smaller than African or French marigolds.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Tufted seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The stem is striated, sometimes ridged, smooth or slightly with villi, cylindrical, oval and herbaceous to slightly woody, with resin channels in the bark, which are aromatic when squeezed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Peru
Distribution
Southern North America
Wildlife value
Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Songbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Flowers
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
The flowers of some cultivars have a pleasant citrus-like flavour and can be used sparingly as a flavouring or as a garnish.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Popular in the cut flower trade.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Patio; Pool/Hardscape
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Children's Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Specimen