What color is the Mexican marigold known as cempasúchil?

The Mexican marigold known as cempasúchil is orange.

Cempasúchil is the Mexican name for Tagetes erecta, also called the Aztec marigold or Mexican marigold. Its large flower heads are most strongly associated with vivid orange, although cultivated varieties can also produce yellow, gold, cream, or mixed shades. In Day of the Dead celebrations, the orange form is especially prominent on graves and ofrendas.

The name comes from the Nahuatl cempōhualxōchitl, commonly translated as “twenty flowers.” The plant was grown by Indigenous peoples of Mexico for ceremonial, decorative, medicinal, and sometimes culinary purposes. After the Spanish conquest, it spread beyond the Americas and became a popular garden flower worldwide.

A common mix-up is confusing cempasúchil with every plant sold as “marigold.” Several Tagetes species share that English name, while calendula is sometimes called a marigold despite being a different genus. The flower’s color and strong scent are traditionally believed to help guide deceased loved ones toward offerings.