Dyer’s Marigold or Aztec Marigold
Tagetes erecta
 
We first saw this unusual and striking landrace from Mexico in the gardens at Arche Noah, Schiltern, Austria.  Because it attracts such a wide variety of pollinators – not to mention its ornamental charms, we decided to grow it at Roughwood.  The 30 to 46 inch tall plants make excellent background accents because they are covered with large, ruffled flowers (some are single) that set the garden ablaze with fiery yellow color. Called cempohualxochitl (“twenty petals”) in Nahuatl, the flower was grown for ceremonial use by the ancient Aztecs.  
The plant still grows wild in Puebla, Veracruz, and the State of Mexico and is used throughout the country as a dye plant (from the petals), especially in poultry feed. The flowers are also a key element in grave decorations for the Mexican Day of the Dead and make long-lasting cut flowers for arrangements.  Best of all, this marigold is generally free of the pests and diseases that plague the hybrid marigolds sold in garden centers.
 
~50-60 seeds per packet.