[2] Since Spanish colonization, it has been introduced around the world, and has become naturalized in Europe, Asia, Australasia, North America, and Africa.

In the Andes it is known as Huacatay or Wacatay, and in other regions it is common as chinchilla, chiquilla, chilca, zuico, suico, or anisillo.

[3] Dried leaves may be used as a seasoning and huacatay paste is used to make the popular Peruvian potato dish called ocopa.

An extraction of the plant, "Marigold oil", is used in the perfume, tobacco, and soft drink industry.

[3] In addition to food, the plant can be used to produce dye,[9] and as a green manure crop for biomass and a bio-fumigant for control of selected species of nematodes.