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Botanical name: Tagetes lemmonii
This variety has foliage with the fragrance of mint, and a hint of camphor; evergreen in frost free areas, but will die back and re-sprout in colder areas; striking daisy like flowers in winter through spring; prefers sun and is drought tolerant.
Other names: Mountain Marigold, Copper Canyon Daisy
| Hardiness zone | 7b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | yellow |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | mounded |
| Mature height | 4 feet |
| Spread | 6 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry to moist |
| Plant origin | North American native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Mt. Lemmon Marigold features showy yellow daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from late winter to mid spring. Its attractive fragrant narrow compound leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Mt. Lemmon Marigold will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 5 feet apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.
Mt. Lemmon Marigold is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
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