Annual herb to 50 cm tall, glabrous. Stems purplish, much-branched. Leaves pinnate with 7-13 leaflets, glandular. Leaflets lanceolate, to 3 cm long, margins toothed. Capitula solitary, to 5 cm across; summer. Ray florets reddish brown, orange or yellow, often with reddish markings. Achenes 7-8 mm long, hairy. Pappus of several fused scales, 1 or 2 longer than others.

Central America

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Tagetes patula)

Updated by: Val Stajsic, January 2020