African Marigold
Tagetes erecta — the tall marigold with pompon blooms, African in name only.
Origin
Section titled “Origin”“African” in name only: Tagetes erecta comes from Mexico and Central America, where the Aztecs grew it — still the flower of the Día de los Muertos. An annual with upright stems and big pompon blooms; it runs one season and ends at frost.
Location
Section titled “Location”Full sun, 59–86 °F. It dies at frost — no overwintering, one season only.
Watering
Section titled “Watering”Water every couple of days when the surface begins to dry — at the base, not the flowers, since soaked heads rot. Half-strength feed monthly, May to September; overfeeding buys leaves instead of flowers.
Pruning
Section titled “Pruning”Deadheading is the pruning: snip spent blooms before they set seed and new buds keep coming. Pinch the young plant’s tip once for a bushier frame.
Repotting
Section titled “Repotting”None — an annual, sown or planted fresh each spring. Seeds saved from spent heads come up easily the next year.