Interesting. I'd hardly have recognized it as a Tagetes. Does it flower?

Floraluk2, here is a bit of a description "Tagetes filifolia Mexican Marigold. Ferny leaves with a surprising sweet licorice flavor suitable for fresh or cooked use. Bushy compact plants are attractive in containers or as an edging. Delicious!"

As for flowering, the most minuscule of things, would need a magnifying glass! The above photos were taken in early October from March sown seed.

I've discovered it's available from the company I get seeds from but it requires sowing in heat under glass here. Then transplanting after all risk of frost is past and starts cropping in July. Not sure I can face the faff. But it looks as if it might be snail proof which would be very useful. Have you tried drying it? Can you direct sow in your climate?

I recently sowed them in sunny south facing window, I wish for well developed plants to take additional cuttings, these are slower and too pokey to be self sown in my climate, but are not challenging. I hadn't dried any, though something to keep in mind!

Might give it a go!

I think this is one of the plants that will be slow to catch on, though once grown is much appreciated.

It looks really really good! Did you have to prune them or they grow like this naturally?

One herb I’d like to grow as an ornemental is curled parsley. Maybe next year, as all the space under my grow lights is already spoken for.

No pruning at all, these marigolds remained nice and full until frost. If they look a bit yellowish there, it's just the glow of the evening sun.

Yes, curly parsley I always grow and this year will tuck some into the beds, thanks for the suggestion! :)

My D-i-L bought seeds (from Kings...is that where you shop, Floral). She is something of a herbalist and loves to try unusual foods and medicinal stuff. Trying a new tagetes myself this year - tagetes lemmonnii - a semi-woody perennial. Mainly used to grow t.tenuifolia for edging but they are definitely NOT snail proof.

Yep. I buy my allotment seed from Kings. Pity about not being snail proof. We're in gastropod empire here.

Floral, quite suddenly, I'm almost a bit thankful for the depths of my winters, those things would be freeze dried in a flash, lol. In wet summers, we do though have nuisance slugs that either must be hand picked or baited, especially they love peas and lettuce.

Rosa, tagetes lemmonii, now that's a gem, love to try it as a container plant, those blooms are a bit something else!

Yep, the mollusc apocalypse will be upon us any day now.

Wow those snails are huge! Can you eat them?

You could, if you had to, but they're not as big as the usual edible snails. Different species.

They've already started on the clematis shoots and they even eat snowdrop and daffodil flowers.

Sounds like they’re a huge pain.

Mazerolm, yes, it's all about the piping hot butter, garlic and mushroom caps! .... :)

@FrozeBudd_z3/4: and cheese!! lol!!

I knew I forgot something ! :)

My 'Dropshot' marigolds are up and running, will add some of these to the containers upon the deck that it's at my fingertips.

I agree with Mike, it’s a very nice looking little shrub, fan of licorice or not.

But floral, if I had those slugs in my garden, I am not sure my normal vinegar or ammonia drenches would put a dent in the population! What do you use to control them???

debra

Mike, anyone having seen and sampled these marigolds in my garden were in for a pleasant surprise, taste tests have usually result in a "WOW!"

I'm down to only three seedling, an oversight upon watering and several perished, just means I'll attempt to take cuttings when these establish.

Debra, I think floral either requires a flamethrower, a sledgehammer or a searing pan of garlic butter and mushroom caps, LOL. :)