May / June 2006

Marigolds Tansy Am I Blue? Bees: Friends of Gardeners Medley of Melons Local Garden Clubs Opportunities Books Herbs Dining Out Dining In Resources Bits & Pieces Editor's Gleanings Gardening with Kids Herb of the Year Notes from the Brazos Beck on Nature (greyed articles available in printed version - subscribe now!)	Marigolds Marigolds have been growing in gardens around the world for hundreds of years. They are bright orange and yellow flowers that bring cheer to any garden. The name is a corruption of the old Anglo-Saxon merse-mear-gealla (golden marsh flower). Through the years, the name sounded more like Mary and became associated with the Virgin Mary. and in the 17th Century became the symbol of Queen Mary. No matter which important lady the flower was associated with, it has always been popular in the garden. The African marigold (Tagetes erecta) is not African. It is Mexican, as are all marigolds. It grows tall and is fully flowered. The French marigold (T. patula) is also a native of Mexico. How they became associated with other continents and countries is a mystery. Then there are the other marigolds, which strictly speaking, aren’t marigolds at all. Sometimes this plant stuff gets confusing! In any event, there are many marigolds that grow beautifully in Texas gardens. Here are the major types: Garden Marigold — These are the plants most of us recognize as marigolds. They hail from Mexico and are among the most popular annual bedding plants in the United States. There are numerous marigold varieties available at nurseries and garden centers. The African marigolds have large, double, yellow-to-orange flowers that may measure up to five inches across. Plant height varies from 10 to 36 inches. Tall varieties can be used as background plants. French marigolds are smaller, bushier plants with flowers up to two inches across. Flower colors are yellow, orange and mahogany red. Many varieties have bicolored flowers. Plant height ranges from 6 to 18 inches. These plants bloom from spring until frost and are excellent for bordering flower beds and in containers. There are also many hybrid options available that cross the African and French varieties. These are called triploid hybrids and they are a good choice for hot weather since they bloom repeatedly. The African and French types both have a rather strong and unpleasant scent (according to some people). Signet marigolds (T. tenuifolia) are bushy plants with fine, lacy foliage. The small, single flowers literally cover the plant in the summer. Flower colors range from yellow to orange. These flowers are edible and have a spicy tarragon flavor. The foliage has a pleasant lemon fragrance. These plants are unable to produce viable seed, so you need to find transplants to put into your garden if you want this variety. Garden marigolds can be planted from seed or from transplants. They are readily available in the spring at nurseries, often in bloom so you can see what the flower will look like. They should be planted in a sunny spot with good drainage. Depending on how big the plant will get, space them 6-18 inches apart. Deadheading during the blooming season will keep the plants in bloom. Water when the weather is very dry, but try not to get the foliage wet. Most pests don’t care much for marigolds, but spider mites are the exception. In hot, dry weather, they can be a problem. Spray your plants regularly with seaweed to discourage spider mites and make sure they are growing in rich, well-drained soil. Although we have been told for generations that these marigolds will protect our veggies from pests and nematodes, new research says no. Lemon Marigold — The botanical name is Tagetes lemmonii, but there are several common names in addition to Lemon Marigold: Shrub Marigold, Mexican Bush Marigold, Mount Lemmon Marigold, and Copper Canyon Daisy. Some people think of this marigold as an herb and others call it a native plant. In fact, it is both. This is a plant that most people either love or hate. It has a very strong scent that some find delightful, while others find it overpowering. The scent is no doubt responsible for the fact that deer are not at all fond of this plant. Gardeners who fight deer depredation, love it. It has airy foliage that is greenish gray (or grayish green) and bright yellow-gold small flowers. This plant is sensitive to day length, so it blooms in the early spring and late fall. When days are very long and hot, it rests and presents a nice foliage look to the garden. It has woody stems that can be pruned to keep the plant in shape, and cuttings can be taken since it is happy to propagate itself. It is tolerant of drought and doesn’t need particularly rich soil. This is a native plant that is a good companion to other native plants. It looks beautiful planted along side blue salvias. It makes a nice informal hedge. It is also attractive to bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Be prepared for this plant to sprawl, so give it room when you plant. That 4” pot will turn into two feet in no time! This is a perennial in most areas, so keep it trimmed so it doesn’t get completely out of control! Mexican Mint Marigold — Tagetes lucida, aka Mexican Mint Marigold or Texas Tarragon, is another multi-tasker in the garden. A nice shrubby perennial plant that grows into an erect bush that stands 3 feet tall or so, it has fine-toothed green leaves that are bright and cheerful in the garden. In the fall, the plant bursts into bright yellow bloom with single marigold flowers that show off just as most other garden plants are getting tired of blooming. The leaves contain essential oils quite similar to the French tarragon (which doesn’t do all that well in our summer heat). They can be used as a substitute in any recipe calling for tarragon. A tea can also be made using the leaves if you enjoy anise flavored tea. Make tarragon vinegar from the leaves and sprinkle it on your salads. The flowers are also edible and can be used to garnish that same salad in the fall. Grow this tender perennial in full sun or in a spot where the plant gets full sun for most of the day but a little protection from late afternoon sun. If there is extended drought, water deeply once a week. Feed with your regular organic fertilizer and stand back and enjoy. One writer says this is a good “pet plant,” one that is “irresistible to walk past without brushing your hand over the shrub and then inhaling the fragrance left on your palm.” It can be grown as an ornamental specimen plant or as part of a border or foundation planting. Of course, it is right at home in an herb garden. Desert Marigold — Native to Texas Trans-Pecos deserts and occasionally the Edwards Plateau, the Desert Marigold isn’t strictly speaking a marigold at all. Its botanical name is Baileya multiradiata, a name referring to the numerous ray flowers in each head. The desert marigold is an annual or short-lived perennial that grows 10-30 inches tall from a basal rosette with hairy leaves. In Texas it grows from San Angelo west according to Sally Wasowski and is a heavily blooming garden flower. Single, 1-2” wide flower heads are bright yellow. These are some of the most conspicuous spring wildflowers across the arid lands of the southwest. They start flowering in March and will continue to bloom off and on until November. Rain encourages flowering. Obviously drought-tolerant, this hardy native provides color in an otherwise drab landscape. Highly poisonous to sheep, the desert marigold is being studied by researchers at Arizona State University who have found that it contains compounds that might help in cancer therapy. Birds enjoy the seeds of this flower in the fall and the desert-marigold moth, a nocturnal creature, uses the flower as a base for its cocoon. If you find a flower head sealed into a ball, the larvae of the moth has made its home there. This relationship also causes the flower to produce more blooms. Nature is so clever!