Tageteae

Tageteae is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, within the subfamily Asteroideae. It comprises several genera, the most prominent being Tagetes, commonly known as marigolds. The circumscription of Tageteae has varied among classifications; some treatments recognize around six to nine genera and many species, with Tagetes being the most widely cultivated and horticulturally important.

Members of Tageteae are predominantly native to the Americas, with several species naturalized elsewhere. They are herbaceous plants or shrubs, often annuals or short-lived perennials. Leaves are typically simple to pinnate, sometimes with unpleasant or aromatic scents. The inflorescences are capitulate flower heads (capitula) typical of Asteraceae; florets are usually yellow to orange, organized in dense heads that are attractive to pollinators.

Tageteae species are grown as ornamentals for their bright flowers; Tagetes erecta (African marigold) and Tagetes patula (French marigold) are among the most widespread. Beyond ornament, marigolds are used in traditional medicine and as companion planting to deter nematodes and certain pests, due to their essential oils and secondary metabolites. In some regions, Tageteae species have become naturalized and can escape cultivation.

Taxonomic classification of Tageteae varies among sources, and ongoing molecular phylogenetic work continues to refine its circumscription within the subfamily Asteroideae.