Marigold Tagete Tenuifolia Lemon Gem; Edible Flower Signet Gem!

Tagete Tenuifolia.  Marigold Lemon Gem. Very pretty lacy foliage with many bright yellow blossoms. Edible petals. Long blooming, so excellent for beds, borders or containers. Stands 8-10" tall. 60 days. Direct seed in spring, space at 6-10 inches. You can also start transplants 6-8 weeks before setout. Use 1-2 seeds per cell, thin to one. 

Hundreds of petite, citrus-scented flowers cover neat, low mounds of lacy foliage. Long-blooming for beds, borders and containers where it attracts beneficial insects such as hoverflies. Leaves of the plant are edible and are used as flavorful salad greens and garnish. Also known as signet marigold.  Lemon Gem' boasts fresh green lacy foliage aromatic of citrus, and masses of tiny lemon-yellow single flowers all summer long. Sprinkle edible petals on salads!

Hundreds of small lemon yellow flowers covering neat, low mounds of lacy foliage.  Long-blooming for beds, borders, and containers, with a lemony scent.

The bruised foliage is perhaps more refreshingly aromatic than any other plant. The lemon verbena-like smell remaining on the fingers for an hour or more after touching the plant. Removing dead flowers before the seed is formed will extend the flowering season.

Grows well with tomatoes.

Secretions from the roots of growing plants have an insecticidal effect on the soil, effective against nematodes and to some extent against keeled slugs, they also have an effect against some persistent weeds such as couch grass. The plant also has an effect on asparagus beetle and bean weevils. These secretions are produced about 3 - 4 months after sowing. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers.

•Edible Flowers: Use the flowers to dress up salads and desserts or cooked in egg or rice dishes. Flavor is floral with hints of citrus and spice, and slightly bitter. Remove the petals from the flower base before consuming as the base can be quite bitter.