Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Ornamental - Popular ornamental flower for gardens, cut flowers, and decorations. Food- Flowers are used in salads. Root eaten as vegetable. Medicine- The plant (probably the tubers) was used as a diuretic and diaphoretic, it was used to treat colic, tuberculosis, and flatulence. Dye- Orange and yellow dyes are obtained from flowers and seed. Cosmetics- Extracts of both the leaves and the seeds are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as emollients and skin conditioners.
Mexico
Thrives in temperate climates with full sun and well-drained soil.
It is herbaceous perennial growing 50-200 cm tall with an upright form and branching stems.
Stem is hollow, upright and branching freely.
Leaves are divided, with pointed leaflets, arranged alternately on the stem.
Flowers are large, flower heads in various colors (pink, red, orange, yellow, purple, white), single or double blooms, 6-10 cm in diameter.
Fruit is dry, single-seeded. Each achene has a white pappus (hair-like structure) that aids wind dispersal.
Flowering: June - October.