Common Name: Irish Lace

General Information

Tagetes filifolia is an erect, annual plant, usually much branched, growing 8 - 50cm tall. The plant has a strong aroma similar to that of anise or liquorice[].
The plant is harvested from the wild and used locally as a food flavouring, tea and medicinal herb. It is also used as an insect repellent.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - Mexico, south through C. America and western S. America to northern Argentina

Habitat

Moist, open or brushy, often rocky plains and slopes, common in pine-oak forest, often a weed in cornfields, at elevations from 900 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Tagetes filifolia is native to the seasonally dry tropics, though it can be grown as a tender annual in the temperate zone.
Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in sandy soils[].
Grows well with tomatoes.
Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season[].
Plants are prone to slugs, snails and botrytis[].

Edible Uses

The plants have an anise-scent and are used as a food flavouring[, ]. They make a very pleasant tea[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the whole plant is used as a diuretic in home medicines[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Although no specific mention of the following use has been seen for this species, most if not all members of this genus probably have a similar effect to a greater or lesser degree.
Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing[]. The growing plant is also said to repel insects and can be grown amongst crops such as potatoes and tomatoes.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.