Mt. Lemmon Marigold
Tagetes lemmonii
An Arizona mountain native whose fragrant foliage and orange-yellow blooms brighten the garden when little else is flowering.
Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; an evergreen southern-Arizona mountain native that may lose tips to hard frost in the low desert but recovers fast, suited to low and mid elevations.
AMWUA Notes
A moderate-water native that delivers valuable fall and winter color plus aromatic, pest-repellent foliage.
Care Guide
Water every 1-2 weeks in summer; moderate but regular moisture keeps this fast, soft-wooded shrub full and sets up its heavy fall bloom.
Shear back by a third to a half in late spring to control its size and prevent legginess, but stop trimming by late summer so flower buds can form for the fall-winter show.
Little needed; over-rich soil produces rank growth at the expense of form.
The pungent, marigold-scented foliage repels most pests, rabbits, and deer.
Evergreen aromatic shrub that saves its main bloom for fall and winter, giving color when most desert plants are dormant; frost may nip the tips in cold snaps.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Average, well-drained soils; tolerant of poor and rocky ground; over-rich soil produces rank growth.
Needs well-drained soil.
Low feeder.
Cuttings or seed; softwood cuttings root readily. It grows fast into a large mound.
3–4 ft
Minimal; a fast, soft-wooded shrub with no invasive roots. Prune by early summer to preserve fall bloom buds.
Placement Tips
- •Site near paths and seating where its marigold-scented foliage can be brushed and enjoyed.
- •Prize it for off-season color — place where its fall-and-winter bloom fills a dormant-season gap.
- •Prune early-summer at the latest; late shearing removes the coming flower buds.
- •Full sun; give it space, as it grows quickly into a 3-4 foot mound.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
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Use this care guide to maintain your Mt. Lemmon Marigold. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Mt. Lemmon Marigold — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Mt. Lemmon Marigold need in Phoenix?
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is a moderate-water perennial once established. Water every 1-2 weeks in summer; moderate but regular moisture keeps this fast, soft-wooded shrub full and sets up its heavy fall bloom. A moderate-water native that delivers valuable fall and winter color plus aromatic, pest-repellent foliage.
How big does Mt. Lemmon Marigold get?
Expect roughly 3 ft tall and 3 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 3–4 ft of spacing when planting. Minimal; a fast, soft-wooded shrub with no invasive roots. Prune by early summer to preserve fall bloom buds.
Can you plant Mt. Lemmon Marigold near a pool?
Yes. Mt. Lemmon Marigold is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.
Can Mt. Lemmon Marigold handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 8-11; an evergreen southern-Arizona mountain native that may lose tips to hard frost in the low desert but recovers fast, suited to low and mid elevations. Evergreen aromatic shrub that saves its main bloom for fall and winter, giving color when most desert plants are dormant; frost may nip the tips in cold snaps.
Does Mt. Lemmon Marigold have thorns?
No. Mt. Lemmon Marigold is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Mt. Lemmon Marigold safe around pets?
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Mt. Lemmon Marigold bloom in Arizona?
Mt. Lemmon Marigold blooms in fall-winter, with orange-yellow flowers. The flowers are fragrant. The bloom draws bees, butterflies.
How much maintenance does Mt. Lemmon Marigold need?
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Shear back by a third to a half in late spring to control its size and prevent legginess, but stop trimming by late summer so flower buds can form for the fall-winter show.
What kind of soil does Mt. Lemmon Marigold need?
Average, well-drained soils; tolerant of poor and rocky ground; over-rich soil produces rank growth. Nutrient needs are low. Little needed; over-rich soil produces rank growth at the expense of form.
Is Mt. Lemmon Marigold native to Arizona?
Yes. Mt. Lemmon Marigold is native to Arizona and to the Southern Arizona, Northern Mexico mountains, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.