Cempasúchil
Tagetes erecta
Family: Asteraceae · Also called Mexican Marigold, Aztec Marigold, Flor de Muerto, Tagetes remotiflora, Tagetes erecta f. pleniflora, Tagetes elongata
Earthy & Warm · Autumn bloomer
The cempasúchil blazes in marigold-orange across Mexico each October and November, enormous pompom blooms on tall, sturdy stems that are harvested by the millions for Día de los Muertos altars and cemetery decorations. The intense color represents the sun, and the powerful scent is said to call the dead home.
death, remembrance, the sun, guiding the dead
In the Victorian language of flowers, cempasúchil means “A bridge between life and death”. The cempasúchil is the heart of Día de los Muertos, its vivid orange petals and strong scent are believed to attract the spirits of deceased loved ones back to the world of the living. Paths of petals (tapetes) are laid from cemeteries to family altars. The Aztecs cultivated it as a ceremonial and medicinal flower for at least 2,000 years before Spanish contact.
Did You Know?
Cempasúchil petals contain lutein, a carotenoid pigment now widely used in the poultry industry to make egg yolks deeper orange. Mexico produces over 15,000 tons of marigold petals annually for pigment extraction. The Aztec name 'cempohualxochitl' means 'twenty flowers' (cempohualli = twenty, xōchitl = flower) for the many layered petals.
Open fields, roadsides, and cultivated plots in warm climates across Mexico
Cempasúchil is native to Mexico, Central America. It naturally grows in open fields, roadsides, and cultivated plots in warm climates across mexico.
Scent Profile
“A powerful, musky-herbal scent with citrus undertones, love-it-or-hate-it intensity that the Aztecs believed could guide spirits of the dead back to the living world on Día de los Muertos.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameTagetes erecta
- FamilyAsteraceae
- Native ToMexico, Central America
- Bloom SeasonAutumn
- LifespanAnnual
Cultural Significance
The cempasúchil is the heart of Día de los Muertos, its vivid orange petals and strong scent are believed to attract the spirits of deceased loved ones back to the world of the living. Paths of petals (tapetes) are laid from cemeteries to family altars. The Aztecs cultivated it as a ceremonial and medicinal flower for at least 2,000 years before Spanish contact.