Role of non-enzymatic antioxidant, ascorbate, in alleviating Cd toxicity was studied in a hyperaccumulator of Cd, Tagetes patula. Significantly high levels of MDA, a biomarker of Cd induced oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation, was observed in leaves and roots of T. patula plants 8 days after exposure to concentration higher than 10 µM CdCl₂. Similarly, significantly high levels of H₂O₂ was observed in leaves of 35-days-old plants exposed to 25 µM and above concentration of CdCl₂ for 14 days, but no such increase in H₂O₂ was observed in roots of same plants. Moreover, levels of total ascorbate (AsA) significantly decreased and increased in leaves and roots, respectively. In addition, root tissues were also able to maintain high levels of reduced AsA pool as indicated by high AsA/DHA ratio. However, AsA/DHA ratios were similar across leaves of untreated and Cd treated plants. Presence of 1 mM AsA in media during Cd toxicity (25 µM CdCl₂) abolished the chlorosis phenotype of plants observed under Cd stress and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) was similar to that of control non-stressed plants. The improved oxidative stress tolerance in above ground tissue can be observed by the significant increase in total AsA level in leaves compared to Cd stressed plants. Enhanced oxidative tolerance of plants in presence of 1 mM AsA during Cd stress helped in maintaining significantly higher shoot biomass than Cd stressed plants though significantly lower than that of control untreated non-stressed plants. The increase in shoot biomass translated in higher accumulation of Cd in above ground tissue under Cd stress. The results indicate that the growth of T. patula plants as well as Cd accumulation can be improved under Cd stress by enhancing the ascorbate pool in above ground tissue.