Wildflower Seeds Worth Collecting: Desert Marigold

Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) is a low water wildflower native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The Desert Marigold grows abundantly in dry sandy or gravelly soils, high heat and full sun, with only the moisture that Mother Nature provides.

The Desert Marigold is a small plant about 8" – 12” tall and 12” – 24” in width.

Its foliage, both stems and leaves, are a hairy or woolly silver gray.

The Desert Marigold produces abundant, showy, yellow daisy like flowers from spring until frost. Flowers contain both ray (outer ring with yellow petals) and disc (inner section without petals) flowers.

After flower petals whither and the seed heads begin to dry, seeds can be harvested. Seeds mature from late summer through fall. Seeds are maturing now (October) and can be collected. Sow seeds immediately into your xeric landscape.

The Desert Marigold makes a great addition to your xeric landscape or cactus garden due to its minimal water needs. The Desert Marigold is best grown in full sun, on dry mesas, sandy or gravelly soils, with low to no irrigation water. The Desert Marigold is hardy to at least USDA zone 6.

Contact Trees That Please Nursery for more information.

Photos & Narrative By:

Stephen Sain
Staff Plant Physiologist

Comments

Desert Dweller said…

Glad you featured this stunning native wildflower, that is so glaringly overlooked by the Santa Fe-centered plant orientation still plaguing Abq. Imagine every gravel expanse front yard in central and southern NM covered in these? Thanks!

October 2, 2012 at 7:52 AM

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