Tagetes erecta
Towering 5 to 6 feet tall with radiant single-petaled blooms of deep golden orange, this true Veracruz strain of Cempasúchil carries one of the most sacred floral lineages in Mesoamerica. Its name, from the Nahuatl Cempōhuālxōchitl, means “twenty flowers,” referring to the many petals that make up each luminous head. Long before Spanish contact, the Aztec, Mixtec, and Zapotec peoples grew (and still do!) and venerated this marigold as a bridge between the living and the dead.
In traditional belief, Cempasúchil flowers hold the light of the sun and the warmth of memory, guiding ancestral spirits home during Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Their sweet, resinous scent—unlike any modern hybrid—was said to attract souls, while their golden hue symbolized both rebirth and the eternal cycle of life. In rural Veracruz and Oaxaca, families still sow these seeds with prayer and intention, tending them through the rainy season to ensure full bloom by late October.
These plants grow with vigor and grace, branching freely and producing dozens of single, open-faced blooms loved by pollinators and sacred ceremonies alike.
Days to maturity: 100–120
Seeds per pack: 60+
Germination rate: 90% (10/15/2025)
Planting & Harvest Notes
Sow seeds directly in full sun after the danger of frost has passed, or start indoors 4–6 weeks early for earlier blooms. Plant ¼ inch deep in well-drained soil. Space plants 12–18 inches apart and provide support if grown in windy areas, as mature plants may reach over five feet. Regular deadheading promotes abundant flowering through late summer and early fall. For ceremonial harvest, gather flowers at full color and fragrance.
Seed Saving Notes
Allow several flower heads to dry naturally on the plant until the petals fade and the seed bracts begin to split. Or pick heads when the petals are beginning to fade and turn brown. Clip and dry the heads thoroughly in a shaded, well-ventilated space. Once crisp, gently rub the dried heads to release the slender black seeds, then winnow away debris. Store seeds in a cool, dry location. Marigolds are insect-pollinated, so if saving multiple Tagetes erecta varieties, isolate by at least 200 feet to maintain purity. Properly stored, seeds remain viable for 3–4 years.
Tagetes erecta
Towering 5 to 6 feet tall with radiant single-petaled blooms of deep golden orange, this true Veracruz strain of Cempasúchil carries one of the most sacred floral lineages in Mesoamerica. Its name, from the Nahuatl Cempōhuālxōchitl, means “twenty flowers,” referring to the many petals that make up each luminous head. Long before Spanish contact, the Aztec, Mixtec, and Zapotec peoples grew (and still do!) and venerated this marigold as a bridge between the living and the dead.
In traditional belief, Cempasúchil flowers hold the light of the sun and the warmth of memory, guiding ancestral spirits home during Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Their sweet, resinous scent—unlike any modern hybrid—was said to attract souls, while their golden hue symbolized both rebirth and the eternal cycle of life. In rural Veracruz and Oaxaca, families still sow these seeds with prayer and intention, tending them through the rainy season to ensure full bloom by late October.
These plants grow with vigor and grace, branching freely and producing dozens of single, open-faced blooms loved by pollinators and sacred ceremonies alike.
Days to maturity: 100–120
Seeds per pack: 60+
Germination rate: 90% (10/15/2025)
Planting & Harvest Notes
Sow seeds directly in full sun after the danger of frost has passed, or start indoors 4–6 weeks early for earlier blooms. Plant ¼ inch deep in well-drained soil. Space plants 12–18 inches apart and provide support if grown in windy areas, as mature plants may reach over five feet. Regular deadheading promotes abundant flowering through late summer and early fall. For ceremonial harvest, gather flowers at full color and fragrance.
Seed Saving Notes
Allow several flower heads to dry naturally on the plant until the petals fade and the seed bracts begin to split. Or pick heads when the petals are beginning to fade and turn brown. Clip and dry the heads thoroughly in a shaded, well-ventilated space. Once crisp, gently rub the dried heads to release the slender black seeds, then winnow away debris. Store seeds in a cool, dry location. Marigolds are insect-pollinated, so if saving multiple Tagetes erecta varieties, isolate by at least 200 feet to maintain purity. Properly stored, seeds remain viable for 3–4 years.
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