Damianita

Name: Damianita
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Chrysactinia mexicana

A compact, fragrant perennial that fills courtyards with golden blooms and aromatic foliage through spring and fall.

Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; evergreen through low-desert winters and tolerant of both low- and mid-desert heat, hardy to roughly 10 degrees F.

AMWUA Notes

A superb low-water evergreen that holds its form and color on minimal irrigation once established.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water deeply every 1-2 weeks in summer once established, tapering to monthly in winter; excellent drainage is essential to prevent root rot.

✂️Pruning

Shear the entire mound back by one-third after the spring bloom flush to keep it dense and prompt the fall flush; avoid cutting into bare old wood.

🌱Fertilizing

Not needed; a single spring dose of light organic mulch is plenty.

🛡️Pests

Virtually pest-free, and its resinous, aromatic foliage deters rabbits and deer.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Evergreen and needle-like in winter; the two big color pushes come in spring and again with cooler fall weather.

🪨Soil

Lean, rocky or gravelly, fast-draining alkaline soils; excels in decomposed granite and caliche; rots in heavy clay or rich soil.

💧Drainage

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.

🌰Propagation

Semi-hardwood cuttings root readily; also grown from seed. Not typically divided.

📐Spacing

2 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Minimal; a shallow-rooted evergreen with no invasive tendencies. Sharp drainage is the key to longevity.

•Use as a low evergreen edging or in tidy courtyard massings where its year-round green form matters.
•Space 24 inches apart in groups for a continuous mounded ribbon of gold.
•Site in full sun with reflected heat — shade makes it sparse and shy to bloom.
•Pair near seating so butterflies visiting the flowers are easy to enjoy.