MOUNT LEMMON MARIGOLD
Mount Lemmon Marigold
Tagetes lemmonii
| Category | Shrub |
| Size | 3′ x 4′ |
| Flower Color | Late Fall to Spring |
| Flower Season | Late Fall to Spring |
| Exposure | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Water | Moderate |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| Hardiness | 20°F |
| Notes | Fragrant |
Description
Mount Lemmon Marigold is native to Southern Arizona. It makes a great desert xeriscape perennial shrub. Mount Lemmon Marigold was originally collected in Southeastern Arizona in the late 1800s by the Lemmons, a husband and wife collecting team, after which it is named. It has finely divided, medium-green, fragrant leaves. Grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide in low desert regions. Masses of 1-inch, daisy-like flowers appear late in the fall and throughout the winter months.
Maintenance
Mount Lemmon Marigold tolerates native rocky soil, but grows larger and blooms more in well-drained, fertile soil. Plant in fall or early spring in full sunlight or filtered shade. Water established plants every week during the summer, once every month in the winter. Withhold water to slow vigor. Apply a slow-release fertilizer early in the spring. Prune in late spring (after flowering) to stimulate bushier growth and more flowering, but do not prune in the summer.