The Mountain Marigold is one of the few perennial marigolds. It comes from the mountains of Arizona and Mexico. It is an easy to grow shrub that is quite popular in American gardens. It grows to between 1 and 1.5m tall and 1m wide. The foliage is pinnately divided and light green in color and like most Marigolds is fragrant. The aroma is a lemon-passionfruit-melon scent that wafts up as you brush past the foliage.
Tagetes lemmonii has single yellow flowers from late autumn to mid spring. The flowering can be extended by cutting back in late spring. The Mountain Marigold is not long lived but will stimulate the senses whilst it is there. Plant with Helichrysum ‘Korma’ for a contrast of foliage and fragrance or with Pentstemons to give year round color.
