Desert marigold may be the perfect wildflower for hot, dry gardens. It’s carefree and blooms all year long with almost no maintenance. Here’s how to grow and care for this desert native.
Desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) is a cheerful wildflower with fuzzy gray leaves and sunshine-yellow flowers atop long slender stems.
This wildflower is native to much of the southwestern US and northern Mexico and can be found in three US deserts (Mojave, Sonora, Chihuahua). In Tucson, they are ubiquitous. You’ll see them growing along roadsides, hiking paths, bike trails, and just about anywhere the soil is poor or disturbed.
Desert marigolds are among the easiest wildflowers to grow. These plants are tough. They can easily handle the desert’s hottest and coldest temperatures. They require almost no maintenance and are well-behaved. They reseed… but manageable, not aggressively.
They need full sun and, provided you’ve had some winter rain, can survive on rainwater alone. In their natural habitat, they survive on as little as 2” of rain per year.
Desert marigolds provide an important source of nectar for native bees and insects since they are one of the few plants that flowers all year. Seed-loving birds like goldfinches are frequent visitors, too.
Why I Like This Plant
- Perpetual blooms,
- No frost damage, looks good all year
- Naturalizes manageably
- Thrives on neglect
- No thorns, low-litter
- Important food source for birds and pollinators
Things to Watch Out For
Desert marigolds are not toxic to people, pets, horses, or cattle. But they are toxic to goats and sheep, in case you have any on your property.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding desert marigolds to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plants looking good and coming back every year.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Desert marigolds should ideally be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 – 10. They can take whatever heat is thrown at them. They can survive temperatures down to -10℉ and are not subject to frost damage.
Sun Exposure
Desert marigolds do their best in full sun, and I mean real death-star Arizona sun. These are tough desert survivors that can handle true full sun and reflected heat. That’s why you’ll often see them growing along roadsides.
Size and Growth Rate
Once they sprout, they grow fast. It only takes seedlings a few months to start blooming. When fully grown, they form an attractive mound, typically reaching 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide.
Soil
Desert marigolds grow well in any soil, from sandy to clay, provided it’s well-draining. You’ll often find them growing in disturbed areas.
Lifespan
Desert marigolds are considered “short-lived perennials” which generally last 3 years or so. Since they readily naturalize in the garden, the loss of an individual plant should not be a concern.
I love that desert marigolds reseed manageably, and new plants always seem to pop up in perfect spots in my garden. And if you have more seedlings than you want, they are easy to remove. Even mature plants pull out surprisingly easily.
Other Location Considerations
Unlike most native plants, desert marigolds have no thorns, stickers, or irritating hairs and are actually soft to the touch. Because plants are “unarmed,” non-toxic, and nearly litter-free, you can feel comfortable placing them near a pool, sidewalk, or anywhere they might come in contact with pets and people.
A surefire way to kill desert marigolds is to overwater them.
So don’t plant them near plants that are watered frequently.
This is one wildflower that is attractive and tidy all year long. So you can probably grow them in your front yard, even if you have a strict HOA.
Desert marigolds contrast beautifully in color and texture when planted near boulders or spikey desert plants such as cactus and agave.
Desert Marigold:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Desert marigold |
| Scientific Name | Baileya multiradiata |
| Origin | Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan deserts |
| Plant Type | Short-lived perennial |
| USDA Zones | Zones 6 – 10 |
| Cold Hardiness | To -10℉ |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Season | All year |
| Mature Size | 18″ high x 2’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, low litter Non-toxic to humans, pets |
| Cautions | Toxic to sheep, goats |
| Wildlife | Attracts bees, birds, butterflies Deer, rabbit resistant |
Growing Desert Marigolds: Seed vs Transplants
Most gardeners grow desert marigolds from seed, but some nurseries sell transplants.
One year, I bought a few plants and sowed seeds as a test. The plants that started from seeds performed better hands down. The seedlings quickly caught up in size and then outperformed the transplants in growth, flowering, and general hardiness.
Growing this wildflower from seed couldn’t be easier. I sprinkle seeds on top of my landscape gravel and then water them in so they don’t blow away. I let the winter rains take care of providing moisture. That’s it! They reseed in the wild with no human intervention and, hopefully, will do so in your yard, too.
You can buy seeds or gather them, provided you do so responsibly. Please see A Guide to Collecting and Growing Sonoran Desert Wildflowers. This brochure published by the Native Arizona Plant Society will tell you everything you need to know about collecting and sowing wildflower seeds.
Do not dig up wild plants!
They rarely survive and you will have deprived
the area of next year’s seedlings.
When to Plant
If you’re starting with transplants, plant them as soon as you buy them, usually in late winter to early spring. Disturb the roots as little as possible — wildflowers do not like being transplanted.
If you’re sowing seeds, the best time is between November and February.
How to Care for Desert Marigolds
This section is short since desert marigolds don’t require much care. In fact, care guidelines are more about what not to do.
They should not be fertilized or mulched. (Gravel around their base is OK.)
They should not be on irrigation. Rainwater should provide your seeds and plants with all the water they need. If you experience a prolonged dry spell, you can hand water every few weeks.
They can get overgrown and benefit from an occasional hard prune down to about 3 to 6 inches. This keeps their size and shape in check and promotes more flowers. I’ve done this at various times throughout the year with success, but the best time is in late winter.
Plant Lover Facts
Desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) is not a true marigold (Tagetes spp.). But it is a “plant cousin” that belongs to the same plant family, Asteraceae.
Desert marigold’s natural range includes Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and throughout Mexico.
Did you enjoy this article?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
where you’ll find more great info on creating &
maintaining a beautiful, carefree desert landscape.
Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credit
Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons