Marigold Flower
The Wonderful Rich World of the Marigold Flower
The marigold flower is one of the least appreciated flowers of the world and is one of the most common flowers in the Southwest of the United States and into Mexico. Its deep oranges and yellows seem to burst into being in an explosion of color the equal of any Fourth of July fireworks display. The powerful scent of the marigold flower is a distinctive odor that has its own secret charms to the gardener’s nose.
The marigold flower has won the hearts of many around the world for its many uses and unique charms, and so it is that you can travel the populated continents and find marigolds in use everywhere you go. Here are just of few of the uses to which the marigold is put.
A Star of the Day of the Dead Celebration: In the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead—Dia de los Muertos—the marigold plays a central role because of its association with death. Marigolds are used in the Day of the Dead alters in Mexico because the ancient Aztecs used to commemorate their dead with the orange marigold (called the cempasúchil by the Aztecs). So to this day, you will see Mexicans creating large orange ornamented alters to those loved ones that have passed.
Latin American perfume: Although many people find the scent of marigolds too pungent for general use, in Latin America the perfume industry extracts the marigold’s scent to use as the basic palette for many perfumes. The scent is not kept by itself, but has other layers of scents added to it, in the way that a chef might add spices to a specific type of meat to both temper it and to bring out certain qualities of its flavors.
Brazil, the Birthplace of the Marigold: In fact, it was in Brazil that early European explorers initially stumbled upon the beautiful orange flower. They took it back to Europe with them where it quickly became mixed up in the Spice trade, as you shall see when you get to India.
South African regenerator: In the Republic of South Africa, farmers plant marigolds in dead fields to help ward off various viral and bacterial threats to cash crops. The marigold flower produces a substance that supplants several negative disease-carrying bacteria and what are called nematodes (a type of roundworm that is lethal to cash crops). This forward-looking government sponsored plan is one of the many signs of South Africa’s rebirth since the end of Apartheid.
Throughout the World as an Agricultural Aid: This disease preventing aspect of the Marigold in agriculture is the main reason why our orange beauty is also grown along side food plants like potatoes and tomatoes throughout the world. In effect, marigold is a natural insecticide, fungicide and nematode killer all in one. Ahhhh! The wondrous Marigold!
The French Marigold: The French also took on the marigold flower, adapting it to their gardens where even to this day you will find it is one of the main staples of any francophone flowerbed. Don’t try to convince the French that it’s not a native of their republic.
The dominance of the Marigold in India: In Indian, where Portuguese traders brought the Marigold flower, the flower has found a new home. Indian farms mass produce the flower and the Hindu culture has completely adopted it as one of its own. You will find our world traveling orange friend in everything from store displays to temples to clothing accessories. It is so popular that there was a Bollywood movie a couple of years ago entitled Marigold. Its plot was about an American actress who moves to India where she falls in love. As you can see, it is thick with historical symbolism.
The Marigold in my backyard: And then of course there is that wonderful, little appreciated marigold in my backyard. Only I and a handful of friends and family have appreciated its beauty, but like many gardeners who have marigolds, it is certainly one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.