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Tagetes is a genus of about 50 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family Asteraceae.

They are known in English variously as Mexican marigolds (the most accurate name, fairly closely describing the region of origin of most of the species, Mexico south to northern South America), African marigolds (one species is native to Africa), or French marigolds (perhaps the most widely used name, though they are not native to France).

The different species vary in size from 0.3-1.5 m tall. They have pinnate green leaves, and orange, yellow, or red floral heads typically 4-6 cm diameter, with both ray florets and disc florets.

They have a pungent smell, though some later varieties have been bred to be scentless. It is said to deter some common insect pests, as well as nematodes, and Tagetes are hence often used in companion plantingCompanion planting in gardening and agriculture is planting of different crops in close physical proximity. One traditional practice was planting of corn (maize) and pole beans together. The cornstalk would serve as a trellis for the beans to climb. The i.

See also marigoldMarigold Calendula officinalis Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus Calendula Species About 20, including: Calendula arvensis Field Marigold Calendula maderensis for other plants with this name