Tagetes lemmonii (Mexican Marigold) - A bushy evergreen shrub that grows 4-6+ feet tall and spreads 6-10 feet wide. An intense fragrance from the finely divided foliage is released when rubbed or brushed. Orange-yellow flowers in fall-winter with off bloom in other seasons - flowering is triggered by short day length, so overcast weather can extend flowering in spring—plant in the sun or part shade in well-drained soil. Drought tolerant in coastal gardens but looks best with some irrigation - too much water or too little light produces leggy plants that don't bloom well. Frost tender to a hard frost but rebounds quickly and hardy to at least 18° F. It can be cut back severely or even hedged, but this may reduce or delay flowering - use care when pruning as some have reported this plant to cause slight dermatitis.
Tagetes lemmonii comes from southern Arizona south into northern Mexico. It grows in canyons between 4,000 and 8,000 feet and is commonly known as Mountain Marigold, Copper Canyon Daisy, and Perennial Marigold. Some people enjoy the pungent aroma of this plant, likened to the scent of marigold mixed with lemon and mint; others find the smell completely displeasing, and deer seem to leave this plant alone. The early plant collectors, self-taught field botanists, husband and wife John (1832-1908) and Sara (1836 – 1923) Lemmon discovered this plant in southeastern Arizona.
