Where are marigolds native to?

Where are marigolds native to?

Marigolds belong to the genus Tagetes, which contains some 40 species, all annuals. All are native to the Western Hemisphere and occur naturally from the Southwestern United States down through Central and South America into Argentina. More species are found in Mexico than anywhere else.

Are marigolds from Africa?

The marigold has long been associated with the sun. African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), which are actually native to Mexico and Central America, were sacred to the Aztecs, who used them as a medicine and as a ceremonial offering to the sun gods. Marigolds are still called the herb of the sun because of this.

How did Aztecs use marigolds?

The Aztecs considered Marigolds a sacred flower so bred them to create bigger and more attractive blooms. Aztecs used the sacred flower for decorative and medicinal purposes. The flowers are edible and thought by the Aztecs to cure hiccups and even heal those struck by lightning.

What is the myth behind the marigold flower?

Their use in these celebrations is believed to be tied to a romantic Aztec origin myth about two lovers, Xótchitl and Huitzilin. According to the legend, the lovers would often hike to the top of a mountain to leave flower offerings for the sun-god Tonatiuh, and to swear their love and commitment to one another.

Is marigold a tree or a plant?

marigold, (genus Tagetes), genus of about 50 species of annual herbs of the aster family (Asteraceae), native to southwestern North America, tropical America, and South America. The name marigold also refers to the pot marigold (genus Calendula) and unrelated plants of several families.

Why is it called African marigold?

Marigolds, both French and African, are indigenous to Mexico and Guatemala. They were discovered in the early 16th century and brought to Europe and Northern Africa in the late 16th century where they were quickly adopted into gardens. The family name, Tagetes, is derived from a mythical Etruscan deity.

What is the difference between African and French marigolds?

The main difference between African and French marigold is that the petals of French marigold flowers are more ruffled than the petals of the African marigolds. Furthermore, French marigolds are available in a wider range of shades, while African marigolds possess petals with yellow-to-orange shadings.

Are marigolds native to Mexico?

Tagetes erecta, the Aztec marigold, Mexican marigold, big marigold, cempazúchitl or cempasúchil, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Tagetes native to Mexico. Despite its being native to the Americas, it is often called African marigold.

What is the Mexican name for marigolds?

cempasúchil
Why marigolds, or cempasúchil, are the iconic flower of Día de los Muertos. This Día de los Muertos altar on display at a public shrine in Oaxaca, Mexico, shows several traditional ofrendas, including cempasúchil — the Aztec name of the marigold flower native to Mexico.

Are marigolds a symbol of death?

They also represent remembering the dead. Bringing marigolds to a gravesite is incredibly common and is done in many cultures of the world today.