French Marigold (tagetes patula)

[goReptiles]

I bought some of these and was thinking about putting them in the tortoise enclosure (well repotting them for a while before doing so). I just want to make sure they are safe before I do that. I couldn't find anything other than potted marigold on the safe list.

 

[Tom]

Sorry, I can't find it on my lists either. I bet Kelly or Yvonne will know the answer.

 

[Yvonne G]

Marigold has oily glands on the leaves and is very pungent-smelling. They use it as border plants to repel certain kinds of insects, and it is used in the making of perfumes. It has wide medicinal uses. I couldn't find anything about its toxicity.

 

[goReptiles]

Guess, I will just wait and keep looking around... Like I said I can only find pot marigold on the lists, but I didn't know if French marigold was any different.

Thanks

 

[Itort]

Pot marigold is genus Calendula and French marigold is genus Tagetes. Two different related plants. Torts will eat them but in my case not high on RFs prefered menu.

 

[goReptiles]

Thanks. I realized two different species. I was just mentioning that the pot marigold was the only one I saw on the lists. Are the French marigolds safe in case they do eat them? Flowers, leaves, and stems? They're really more for my Russian outdoor pen.

 

[goReptiles]

I found the species on a toxic plant list:
http://www.tortoise.org/general/poisonp.html

Well, actually the link was provided to me by someone.

 

[stells]

Tagetes... aren't good