African marigolds grow in full sun and bloom throughout the growing season. The cultivar ‘Vanilla’ has extremely double large flowers with ivory petals that blend into lemon yellow in the center. It will grow to a height of about 16 inches. The common name is a misnomer — this species is actually from Mexico, and was in cultivation there prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Marigolds are known for their pungent, spicy-smelling leaves and insecticidal and/or allelopathic herbicidal chemicals. The root system of Tagetes minuta exudes chemicals that prevent the spread of garden weeds like celandine, ground ivy, and bindweed. Parents of most of the commonly cultivated marigolds inhibit soil nematodes and slugs. The flowers are used as a source of yellow dye.