Mexican Marigold

Does this plant have fragrant foliage? If so it may be Mexican Marigold. A bushy evergreen shrub that grows 4-6+ feet tall and spreading 6-10 feet wide. A strong fragrance from the finely divided foliage is released when rubbed or brushed against. 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 sun or part shade in a well-drained soil. Drought tolerant in coastal gardens but looks best with a little 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 overall hardy to at least 18ŒÁ F, which this plant experienced in our nursery in 1990. 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 a slight dermatitis. Tagetes lemmonii comes from southern Arizona south into northern Mexico where it grows in canyons at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 feet and is known commonly 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 quite displeasing and deer seem to completely leave this plant alone.