Marigolds (genus Tagetes): Flavorous, Floriferous, and Fragrant to Butterfly Skippers, Sulphurs, and Whites
77Tagetes patula, Urbana, Illinois
Tagetes genus, which comprises over fifty species in the aster-daisy-sunflower family Asteraceae, is commonly known as marigolds.
In 1753, the father of modern taxonomy, Swedish botanist-physician-zoologist Carl Linnaeus (May 23, 1707–January 10, 1778), named the genus in honor of Tages, an Etruscan (ca. 8th to first centuries B.C.) deity of prophecy who was later incorporated into Roman mythology as the son or grandson of Jupiter (Latin: Iuppiter, "O Father Sky-God"), the patron deity of Rome who reigned as king in the Roman pantheon. Tages was believed to have sprung to full life from the plowed earth. Reminiscently, marigolds seem to burst through the earth from their seeds.
A New World original, marigolds trace their nativity to the American tropics and subtropics. Marigolds are now a worldwide phenomenon, having been introduced and naturalized successfully on other continents since their discovery subsequent to the settlement of the New World.
Three marigold species which are irresistible to butterflies are
*** Mexican mint (Tagetes lucida),
*** French marigold (Tagetes patula),
*** Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia).
Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida)
Externals: What Tagetes lucida, Tagetes patula, and Tagetes tenuifolia look like
Tagetes lucida: golden flowers with gourmet leaves
Tagetes lucida is commonly known as Mexican mint, Spanish tarragon, and sweet mace.
A perennial from Mexico and Guatemala, Tagetes lucida spreads from 16 to 32 inches (40 to 80 centimeters) and displays a fairly similar range in height, from 16 to 40 inches (40 to 100 centimeters).
A woody-based plant, Tagetes lucida branches for a slight way up the stem.
Aromatic leaves, which are lance-shaped, are toothed.
Tagetes lucida explodes in golden brightness in late summer as small flowerheads open in abundant profusion.
Tagetes lucida leaves, which flavorfully combine the taste of tarragon and anise, easily serve as an undetectable substitute for tarragon in cuisine.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which classes plants according to the coldest temperature at which they remain viable, categorizes Tagetes lucida in Zone 9 (20° to 30° Fahrenheit, -7° to -1° Celsius) through Zone 11 (40° to 50° F, 4° to 10° C).
Tagetes patula (2), Brussels, Belgium
Tagetes patula: premiere pièce de résistance for butterflies
Tagetes patula is commonly known as French marigold.
An annual with a compact exuberance, Tagetes patula hails from Mexico and Guatemala.
Tagetes patula spreads from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters). Its height hovers from 8 to 20 inches (20 to 50 centimeters).
Pinnate (Latin: pinna, "feather, fin") leaves, which are divided into narrow, lance-shaped segments, are toothed.
Flowers open singly or in small clusters in early summer and last into autumn. In the wild, floral coloring tends towards yellow to orange. Popular garden varieties strikingly blend red with yellow in striped petals.
Tagetes patula is a visual and fragrant delight, from its vivid, fragrant flowers, whose oil is distilled for perfume, to its aromatic leaves, whose oil glands exude a pungent scent. Butterflies enthusiastically visit this beloved shrub, delighting in its flavorsome nectar, while also appreciating its gorgeous sunny blazes of gold, dark orange, and brick red hues.
Tagetes patula is classed in hardiness Zone 11 (40° to 50° Fahrenheit, 4° to 10° Celsius) to Zone 12 (50° to 60° F, 10° to 16° C).
Tagetes tenuifolia
Tagetes tenuifolia: a waft of citrus
Tagetes tenuifolia is commonly known as signet marigold and striped marigold.
A finely branched annual, Tagetes tenuifolia ranges natively from Mexico south into Colombia (República de Colombia).
Tagetes tenuifolia spreads from 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters). Its height ranges from 12 to 32 inches (30 to 80 centimeters).
Multi-toothed, pinnate leaves are divided into narrow, lance-shaped segments.
From early summer into autumn, tiny yet abundant flowerheads dramatically contrast with short yet obvious ray florets, which are the small, strap-shaped flowers in the center of the flowerhead. Bright shades of yellow, orange, and red vivify the full, aromatic foliage which wafts luscious, citrusy scents.
Tagetes tenuifolia is hardy for Zone 11 (40° to 50° Fahrenheit, 4° to 10° Celsius) to Zone 12 (50° to 60° F, 10° to 16° C).
Marigolds: flavorfully irresistible to butterflies
Butterflies flock to marigolds. Four which treasure marigolds' golden nectar are
*** orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme),
*** cabbage white (Pieris rapae),
*** common checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis),
*** dwarf yellow or dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole).
Orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme) flight collage, Grapevine Lake, Texas
Colias eurytheme is commonly known as orange sulphur butterfly.
This New World native is seen throughout the continental United States except for peninsular Florida. Colias eurytheme also feels at home as far south as central Mexico and as far north as southern Canada.
Colias eurytheme yearns for the openness of alfalfa and clover fields, meadows, and roadsides.
Bordered in black, male uppersides sport a dark black cell spot amidst rich orange to golden yellow. Yellow to white uppersides are punctuated in females by spots rimmed with irregular black borders.
Wingspan measures 1-3/8 to 2-3/4 inches (3.5 to 7 centimeters).
In addition to marigolds, Colias eurytheme extracts nectar from asters (genus Aster), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), marigolds (genus Tagetes), and mints (genus Mentha).
Male cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae), South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pieris rapae is commonly known as cabbage white butterfly.
A Eurasian native, Pieris rapae was first reported in North America in 1860 at Quebec City, Canada. By 1886 Pieris rapae was observed in the United States from the western states of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf Coast states in the southeast.
Pieris rapae now ranges from central Canada to northwestern Mexico. Abounding throughout the continental United States, Pieris rapae is not, however, found in south Texas, southern Louisiana, or the Florida Keys.
Cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae), Mississippi delta
Uppersides are white with black-tipped forewings. Females have two submarginal black spots, while males have only one. The undersides of hindwings and of the apex (Latin: apex, “tip, peak, top”), or tip, of each forewing are yellow green or grey green.
Wingspan averages 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 inches (4.5 to 5.8 centimeters).
In addition to marigolds, Pieris rapae extracts nectar from dahlias (genus Dahlia), lavenders (genus Lavandula), mustards (genus Brassica), and zinnias (genus Zinnia).
Common checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis), Columbia, Missouri
Pyrgus communis is commonly known as common checkered skipper.
A North American native, Pyrgus communis is found throughout the continental United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico.
Pyrgus communis enjoys sunny, open habitats with low vegetation. Fields, gardens, meadows, and prairies are preferred habitats. Roadsides, along with openings and trails in woods, are also appealing.
The inconspicuous coloring of Pyrgus communis presents blue grey uppersides with white sprinkles.
Its petite wingspan measures 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters).
In addition to marigolds, Pyrgus communis delights in blue mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), coneflowers (genus Echinacea), and ironweeds (genus Vernonia).
Dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole), Bob Jones Nature Center, Southlake, Texas
Nathalis iole is commonly known as dwarf yellow, or dainty sulpur, butterfly.
In the United States, Nathalis iole resides in the deep south, from southern California east to the Gulf states and to peninsular Florida. Nathalis iole’s native range stretches southwards across Mexico to Guatemala.
Open, dry habitats appeal to Natalis iole. Coastal flats, weedy fields, grasslands, meadows, and roadsides are ideal locales.
Elongated forewings have yellow uppersides with dainty black markings. Completely whitened uppersides occur, albeit rarely. The undersides of the forewings have a patch of orange or yellow at the base and black spots at the outer wing edges. Hindwings are dusty green in winter and pale yellow in summer.
Wingspan averages 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches (2 to 3.2 centimeters).
In addition to marigolds, Nathalis iole favors asters (genus Aster), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), lavenders (genus Lavandula), and zinnias (genus Zinnia).
Dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole), Doral Butterfly Garden, Florida
Marigolds: bountiful nectar, vividly presented
The common name, marigolds, is thought to honor the Virgin Mary, as the original vernacular name, Mary's gold, has been truncated. Marigolds bountifully and brightly enhance the landscape, bursting forth in a predictable brilliance of sunny hues which gladden hearts. The bright, unassumingly steadfast prevalence of marigolds, particularly with the close of summer and subsequent autumnal signs of decline and decay, instills a cheery understanding of nature's bountiful cycles. Generally,
“Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold. . . .
Nothing gold can stay.” (Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay”)
And yet marigolds persist, oftentimes surviving a light frost. Reliance on the fidelity, perseverance, and profuse presence of this modestly regal genus does not yield disappointment, not for Homo sapiens and certainly not for butterflies.
Not only are marigolds visually stunning, in their unaffected, natural flowering and foliage, but they also provide other sensual enrichment through fragrance and taste. Edible leaves for Homo sapiens and savory nectar for butterflies complete their profile as pleasant sensations in the floral community.
Tagetes patula (1), Brussels, Belgium
Seeds of Change: Certified organic French marigold seeds
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Mexican mint marigold seeds
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Ortho Book: All About Attracting Hummingbirds and Birds
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Flora: A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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Rodale Organic Gardening Book: Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard
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Acknowledgment
My special thanks to talented photographers and concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet:
*** Dori for September 28, 2007 photo, "Tagetes patula, Urbana, Illinois" (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
*** beautifulcataya for September 5, 2009 Flickr photo, "Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida)" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license)
*** Purrrp_Haze for two May 13, 2006 Flickr photos, "Tagetes patula (1), Brussels, Belgium" and "Tagetes patula (2), Brussels, Belgium" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license)
*** Goku122 for photo, "Tagetes tenuifolia" (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
*** TexasEagle for October 20, 2010 Flickr photo, "Orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme) flight collage, Grapevine Lake, Texas" and for May 17, 2009 Flickr photo, "Dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole), Bob Jones Nature Center, Southlake, Texas" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License)
*** Dan Mullen (milesizz) for July 25, 2010 Flickr photo, "Male Cabbage white (Pieris rapae), South Milwaukee, Wisconsin" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license)
*** Jimmy Smith (jwinfred) for May 2, 2009 Flickr photo, "Cabbage white (Pieris rapae), Mississippi delta" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license)
*** Bill Bumgarner (bbum) for October 8, 2007 Flickr photo, "Common checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis), Columbia, Missouri" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license)
*** Matthew Hoelscher (tiswango) for April 30, 2010 Flickr photo, "Dainty sulphur (Nathalis iole), Doral Butterfly Garden, Florida" (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license)
Sources Consulted
Barton, Barb. “Colias eurytheme (On-line).” Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Polites_peckius.html (Last accessed July 8, 2011)
Butterflies and Moths of North America: Collecting and Sharing Information about Lepidoptera. Big Sky Institute, Montana State University. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ (Last accessed July 8, 2011)
Flora: A Gardener’s Encyclopedia. Volume I: A-K. Portland OR: Timber Press, 2003.
Ortho's All About Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies. Des Moines IA: Meredith Books, 2001.
Roth, Sally. Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard. (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) Emmaus PA: Rodale, 2001.
Copyright
Copyright Friday, July 8, 2011 by Derdriu
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Simone Smith: Marigolds have almost an Old World style and coloring so it is easy to forget their New World status. Thank you for your complimentary comments and appreciation of the photos and bibliography.
Another intersting fact about marigolds is that they love tomatoes! SInce tomtaoes and marigolds enjoy the same kind of soil they are a natural to plant together. Also, the roots of the marigold plant put off a chemical that keeps harmful nematodes away from the tender roots of your tomatoes.
FoodWorks Farm: One of the hubs in my queue is on companion planting, starring tomatoes and marigolds. My sister's first garden, quite awhile ago, featured companion planting, and the beneficial interaction between tomatoes and marigolds was flourishingly obvious.
Thank you for commenting, so succinctly, on this important aspect of marigolds.
Another beautiul gem.
I vote up again all the way !!
Thank you for sharing and here's to many more to share.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Eiddwen: Thank you for your lovely comments and votes! Butterflies certainly beautify the world, so it's a pleasure to write about them. And then, of course, there are the flowers! Your appreciation of nature is obvious, especially on your heartfelt walk to raise money for the hospice and in your daughter's memory.
Kudos to having the hub of the day.
I loved the hub esp the beautiful pictures.
Cheers- to your continued success
Awesome butterflies. Great photos. Kudos for bringing a lovely hub.
Wow! What a fantastic hub. I never realised the Marigold had such an epitomy! Love the pics - you have worked so hard to provide all this information.
Will let hubby read - he was a gardener in his younger days.
Voted this up.
We plant marigolds in our
vegetable garden the deer don't like them.
Enjoyed your hub.
manthy: What a lovely---and welcome!---surprise to learn through your comment that this hub won Hub of the Day! Thank you for your kind comments and for appreciating the photos. I was so fortunate to find perfectly perfect images.
registerdomains: Your compliments are much appreciated! The butterflies really are awesome, and I was so fortunate in finding such clear, perfect images. Thank you.
jansplace: Marigolds really are amazing, and the butterflies appreciate them so much. It was a pleasure to research and write this hub, and I am pleased with the appreciative comments about the lovely marigolds and their nectar followers.
Gratz to hub of the day!
Great hub! Congratulations on hub of the day. I use Marigolds in my garden to attract pollinators. I enjoyed this read a great deal.
moonlake: I appreciate that you pointed out that deer stay away from marigolds! My sister had a huge, huge garden a while back, and the deer never intruded because of all the marigolds she planted.
lejonkung: Thanks for the "gratz." It was a welcome surprise this morning, for sure!
An attractive and useful page for anyone interested in these flowers ( and also these butterflies)! Voted up.
davenmidtown: Thank you for your kind comments! Marigolds certainly know how to attract pollinators---they really are almost never alone.
I never quite thought about it like that... but you are right.. they really are never alone....
Greensleeves Hubs: Thank you for the "vote up" and for the kind words! I loved writing this hub because I love marigolds and butterflies, and I wanted to share that marigolds, which often are recognizable even to non-gardeners, are guaranteed to attract a range of butterflies.
davenmidtown: That's one of the things that I love about marigolds, that they are never alone. And since they are never alone, then neither am I!:-)
Fantastic photos.
Lovely and informative hub. Congrats on your well-earned award of the day! Voted up.
Very informative hub, with beautiful photos! Congratulations on being the hub of the day!
Gorgeous! thanks for sharing this. Congratulations on being chosen hub of the day
I love this hub! I adore flowers! Thanks for sharing such awesome information about marigolds. :)
Wonderful subject and so well done. Sending this to my facebook. Mahalo.
Congrats on making Hub of the Day! Excellent hub with great photos!
I do love Marigolds; they are so cheerful.
I have some in pots now--not much goes into the garden, for we have "robo-gophers" who think all our plantings are salad offerings!
Voted up, beautiful & awesome!
Congratulations on making Hub of the day. You deserve it as this is a fantastic Hub.
Maren Morgan M-T: Thank you for complimenting the photos in this hub. I feel fortunate to have found the very images that I wanted for this hub.
RTalloni: Thank you so much for the up-vote! And also for the congratulations and compliments. It was a pleasure to write this hub, and it is indeed pleasing to win Hub of the Day.
applecsmith: Thank you for your congratulations and compliments! I loved writing this hub because I grew up with butterflies and marigolds, so commonplace and yet so exquisite.
FloraBreenRobison: Thank you for your compliments and congratulations! I never dreamed that this dear hub on marigolds and their butterfly friends would win!
queen cleopatra: Your lovely compliments are greatly appreciated! I also adore flowers!
Pamela Kinnaird W: Mahalo for your lovely compliment and for sending this to your facebook! Marigolds have such a bright effect upon everyone who crosses their path, and it's such a bonus to see their butterfly friends.
DzyMsLizzy: Thank you for the up+beautiful+awesome plus the lovely comments and congratulations!
It's amazing how steadfastly gophers hold to the belief that we're planting our gardens for them! :-)
Marigolds look as cheery in pots as in gardens. My green thumb sister gifted me with potted marigolds a while back, and I loved being greeted by their cheeriness in the morning and being bid "good night" by them in the evening.
mohin28: Thank you for your congratulations and kind comments! It says so much for the everyday beauty of marigolds and their butterfly friends that this hub was selected as Hub of the Day!
Derdriu you have such great knowledge of flowers. Send some of that green thumb my way please. lol. great job with this and congratulations on writing the hub of the day.
Jennie Demario: Thank you for your great comments and congratulations! I am so appreciative of the recognition which this hub --- which concerns a flower almost everyone recognizes --- has received.
True story: I haven't always had a green thumb, but they both turned progressively more and more green as I followed my heart and learned about nature! :-)
Very beautiful hub.Pics of all flowers are so attractive.Really i love it.
Congratulations on Hub of the Day.
A beautifully written hub with fabulous photos.
I always plant marigolds in my garden, I love their bright, vivid colour and they do help keep the pests away from my veggie plot:-)
Thank you.
fashion: I am glad that you like this hub and especially the photos. Marigolds are so photogenic!
Movie Master: You are so right that marigolds not only add bright, vivid colour but also discourage pests in the veggie plot. I also enjoy their fragrance, which is a nice reprieve from weeding. :-)
Thank you for your congratulations and compliments!
Derdriu: Congratulations on Hub of the Day for this well written, perfect hub with beautiful photos!
From beginning to end this is fascinating.
I love the lines from one of my favorite Robert Frost poems that "nothing gold can stay."
This hub is pure gold!
Voted up + useful + beautiful + awesome + interesting
Kind regards, Stessily
Derdriu: I had to re-read this hub today. Congratulations on hub of the day. This hub is one that I return to every so often. It is getting colder here now and your butterfly's warm my soul. I love the skippers and that little checkered skipper I think is my favorite. Again, Well done!
Dave: I am honored that you are re-reading this hub, which is dear to my heart, and that you return to it now and again. Thanks for the poetic reminder of the effect that butterflies have upon our souls when we open our hearts to them. And I agree with you about the checkered skipper, which is my favorite, for it looks so real and so alive to me; it's a wonderfully clear photo, which I am so fortunate to have located. I love highlighting the wonderful photos which are made available so generously on the internet. Thanks also for your congratulations! I can still remember the happy disbelief of a dream come true when my sister told me that this was hub of the day in July! I am thankful for that honor, and I can't help wishing that it would happen again, say, for the Australian lizard or the Devil's Hole pupfish or the Socotran trees, which would really spotlight them. I can still hope!
Thanks again for your visit and comments, which are always, always, always welcome.
Such vibrant colors and beautiful photographs Derdriu, no wonder it was hub of the day. This hub is a fantastic example of detailed information and reference citations as well, I'll be taking some lessons away from it. Thanks!
Hello Dear Derdriu ~ One of my all time favorite plants for their fragrance, companion planting and powerful insecticidal effects. At one time I collected the marigold flowers to give to the chickens because I understand they help make beautiful golden flavorful eggs.
QUOTE: "Marigold (Tagetes erecta L., Asteraceae) is not only grown as an ornamental, cut flower, and landscape plant, but also as a source of pigment for poultry feed. The pigment is added to intensify the yellow color of egg yolks and broiler skin. It is composed of esters of xanthophyll (lutein). Finely ground blossom meal, often enriched with an extract, or the extract itself, usually saponified for better absorption, is added to the feed. Marigolds are grown for this purpose in various locations in the western hemisphere, primarily in Mexico and Peru, by and for various companies who produce feed additives."Horticulture, Purdue University
For some reason I have not been successful lately to plant marigolds in my NC garden, whether for lack of sun, too dry drought season or too wet. Or maybe the rabbits got there first. Anyway, I do love simply looking at all your photographs. Better than a catalog! ((HUGS)) Debby
MosLadder: You do a very fine job in your hubs. I'm reading the hubs of all those who follow me and whom I follow, which is the exact same in number. I'm enjoying all the great learning fun in your latest hubs on good eats and exercising and am looking forward to when I get to your travel articles.
Thank you for the visit, and the kind comments.
Respectfully and appreciatively,
Derdriu
DebbyBruck: Marigolds demand full sun and regular watering. They do not like dry soil, which instead should be moist enough for specks to cling to a soil probe inserted 6 inches down into the ground. Generally, I water every 7 to 10 days early in the morning, before 10 a.m. It will be more often if the soil feels dry and less if water pools.
What kind of soil do you have?
Thank you for the visit, and the insightful observations.
Respectfully,
Derdriu
Hi ~ As I live in NC, the soil is naturally clay, except that I have built it up over 30 years of gardening. Also, the trees have grown to heights that now shade out much of the garden and the hydrangeas take up most of the space. Thus, little room left for the marigold, except some companion plants between tomatoes in the summer time.
In addition, we have watering restrictions, and often times drought. I could think about putting them in pots, but my time is now mostly spent on computer. Who would have thunk it?! So, maybe next summer I shall try again. Deb
DebbyBruck: The limited light and water restrictions will do it! Otherwise - and from your hubs and your background, I feel confident that the following two do not apply - it could be a soil pH that is off or too much NPK fertilizer chasing out the other 13 nutrients which healthy soils, soil food web members and plant roots need.
Thank you for the visit, and the insight into your garden.
Respectfully, and kind regards from your neighbor across your state's northern border,
Derdriu
So much information it is such an interesting article. I love marigolds I love using the flowers in salads I didn't know the leaves are also edible. I just bought seedlings this morning and I have tomato seedlings to plant out so now they will go together.
RosieG: Yes, the leaves are as edible as the flowers on the beautiful, friendly, helpful margiold. Your marigold and tomato seedlings are going to look healthy and taste out-of-this-world because they companion plant so harmoniously.
Thank you for the visit, and the kind observations.
Respectfully,
Derdriu
Simply gorgeous and stunning! So many beautiful photographs of the marigold flowers. Your information is so interesting and detailed, I'd say this is head and shoulders above any "reference" book. And, I'm a huge fan of Robert Frost. Love that "first green is gold" poem. Rated up and awesome, beautiful, helpful... across the board! Best, Steph
Steph: The marigold is an example of external and internal beauty. It provides colorful joy to its beholder as well as nutritious leaves to the human nibbler and tasty nectar to the butterfly sipper. It is a win-win situation for all of us earthlings!
Thank you for the visit, the respect for the eloquently simple poetry of Robert Frost, and the kind, esteemed insights.
Respectfully and appreciatively,
Derdriu
Dear Derdriu ~ This article is like a little bit of sunshine. Each time something bright catches my eye. Today, the butterfly collage lit up the page! Blessings, Debby
Debby: The marigold is so generous with its companion planting, delectable nectar, delicious leaves, subtle fragrance, and vivid colors. So I'm happy to hear that this botanical beauty is crossing borders and reaching you in North Carolina.
Thank you for the revisit, and the kind, ever-insightful observations.
Respectfully,
Derdriu
I haven't read all the information provided but pictures of nature are quite beautiful and mesmerizing.
sharadjain: Ornamental and wild plants need to be seen in order to be appreciated in their full glory. Nevertheless, we are fortunate to be living in such a time when the glorious works of so many talented photographers (beginner, amateur, professional) are available on the internet. Such is the case with the marigold, which inspires us in our writings as well as in our daily lives through the beauty and use of its plant parts.
Thank you for the visit, and the kind insights.
Respectfully,
Derdriu
What an amazing array of colour and information for this beautiful flower. We have a pot devoted to marigolds. I love the beautiful butterflies you have there...the collage is a great idea. The sulphur butterfly is simply gorgeous. We have the cabbage white here though. The checked skipper is also cute. And here is some belated congrats on your 'hub of the day!' You certainly deserved it for all your hard work, detailed information and lovely photos.
Natures47Friend, Marigold pots are such a must in butterfly-friendly gardens. Once the butterflies show up, other desirable nature such as hummingbirds and songbirds show up too. They all know a good thing such as marigold even before they nectar it!
Me too, I like the effects of the collage. It gives the impression of charting the flight of an orange sulphur.
The checkered skipper has such a clean, crisp look with the carrying over of the blue gray in the body onto the front wings.
Over the past few years, I've been doing wildlife mapping of the county in which I live. The cabbage white is among the most frequent lepidopteran inhabitants of the area now.
Thank you for the visit, the shared knowledge and experiences, and the nice wishes over the hub award.
Respectfully and appreciatively, Derdriu
Hello Derdriu, Thank you for this gorgeous page on marigolds and butterflies. On Vancouver Island we have the Calendula (often mistaken for a marigold). The Calendula is a hardy self-seeding annual that grows well in our cooler climate, and has a similar look to the marigold, with it's bright orange or gold colouring, but is actually a native of Southern Europe and a member of the Daisy family. Because it is so hardy and self seeding the Calendula performs almost like a perrenial here, unlike the marigold which is usually planted each year from bedding plants. People often use the marigolds here as a deterrent to slugs, but I haven't found them to be very effective used this way, as slugs seem to flock to them, and they end up looking pretty mangled (sad). The Calendula, on the other hand seems to survive pest-free, and provides colour right through to frost. Marigolds are a great choice for bedding plant though,(where slugs are not a problem) as they come in so many sizes, varities and colours
Snakeslane, Me too, I've heard scattered stories about marigolds not deterring slugs and about calendula establishing itself as a colorful survivor. But in my experience, marigold can be quite a pest control. Slugs let my marigolds grow bright and pretty. They instead show up in twos or threes outside the back door. They never get out of hand or damage any of the edibles, natives or ornamentals so I'm happy to let them be.
Thank you for the visit, the welcome information on calendula, and your gardening wisdom.
Respectfully and appreciatively, Derdriu
P.S. I've read all your hubs ;-].
I know you've read all my hubs Derdriu! I left you notes of gratitude on every one. I may just read Derdriu hubs full time and still not read them all. Your hubs are so densely packed full of detail and wonderful images, with so much great history and pertinent background information on the topics you choose it takes me quite awhile to read. And then I am so blown away by what I've read that I am usually at a loss for words, so go away and think about it and come back and read again before I comment. You should just rename yourself 'The University of Derdriu'! I feel like I can learn so much from your pages! Regards, snakeslane
Snakeslane, It's an honor to read such words from you. Your hubs constitute The Snakeslane University of All Things Poetic. It's your poetry which gets my attention. But I also respect the gardening and wildlife experience and expertise your articles and comments evidence.
Thank you for the visit and the kind comments.
Respectfully, Derdriu
Derdriu
congratulations onhub of the day, you certainly deserve the accolade. I love marigolds, saddly so do the slugs around here, and year after year mine turn into slug grub, I've no idea what they drink with them before you ask.
I love your butterfly pictures they are the most delicate and beautiful of creature. We lots of Red admiral and monarch butterflies here.
I also agree with snakeslane, your hubs are always breath taking and so enjoyable to read. She has put in a nutshell my feelings exactly.
Marigolds have a distinctive aroma and I know old time gardeners used to plant them to kill soil bugs and plant them amogst their Tomato plants.
see ya soon ar lass
regards
Tony
Tony, Slugs stay away from marigolds in my garden. They tend to socialize in twos or threes around a slab of concrete in the back yard. It's kind of fun to observe them socializing late in the night.
Butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies are among my favorite insects just because they are so photogenic. Isn't it amazing that the most brightly orange and red-colored butterflies are the most distasteful to wildlife?
Thank you for the visit and the appreciation, proper champion Yorkshireman.
Respectfully, Derdriu
Love the contrast between the dark green foliage and the blossoms. What a thoroughly researched and annotated article. I am exhausted just thinking about how much effort it took. I only hope you took the time to smell the flowers and hold the butterflies as you did so. The Signet reminds me of the dogwood flower that was outside my mountain cabin.
Do bees make honey out of marigold pollen? = :)
Winsome, It's just a case of writing about what I already know as an arborist and environmental educator. So yes, I have plenty of time to appreciate plants and animals. It couldn't be otherwise since I love both.
That sounds really great about having a mountain cabin. Did you live there year-round or was it a place that has been kept in your family over the generations?
Thank you for the visit and the interesting insights.
Respectfully, Derdriu
It was a place to retreat to in the snow or at least to ten degrees cooler than the LA basin whenever I could get away, which was never enough. I was always impressed with the wildflowers that grew spontaneously in the yard and when I mowed, I mowed around them.
I miss it but I miss the carpets of flowers in Texas more. You haven't lived until you've seen small hills and valleys covered with what we called "Indian Blankets," bluebonnets and buttercups. They say the desert near Pasadena is covered with California Poppies and others, but I haven't seen them yet. Maybe this season, we had a lot of good rain this year. =:)
Great information about Marigold. Beautiful pictures and well researched presentation. Keep it up. Congratulations on HOTD!
Urmilashukla, Marigolds are so beautiful to photograph and visit and so industrious in the garden. In particular, I love the wildlife which it attracts as well as the wildlife which it discourages. It's one of my most favorite plants to have and to write about.
Respectfully, and with many thanks for the congratulations and the visit, Derdriu
Derdriu, what a glorious hub! Now I know exactly what I'm planting on the perimeter of my vegetable garden this year. It's also good to know about the deer not liking marigolds. I happen to have a lot of deer visiting, as I live in the woods. Lovely photos of both the flowers and the butterflies. You did a great job! Voted Up and hit all the buttons!
GrandmaPearl, Marigolds are beautiful, industrious additions to gardens. They always look and sniff great to people, but not necessarily to wildlife ;-].
Respectfully, and with many thanks for the visit, the votes, and the enthusiasm, Derdriu
I had no idea they came in so many varieties. I have planted the basic flower for years as they keep bugs away!
Simone Smith Level 7 Commenter 10 months ago
I've always loved marigolds- it was great to have this chance to learn more about them. I had no idea, for example, that they were native to the Americas... I had always thought otherwise. Your works cited are super helpful too, and I love the photos you've chosen! Fantastic Hub!