Groundcover · Sonoran native
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata · Asteraceae
Also called: Desert Baileya, Paper Daisy, Showy Desert Marigold
Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) is a very low-water groundcover native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 10-18 in H x 12-18 in W in full sun, with a fast growth rate. Expect bright yellow blooms Long season, primarily spring through fall.
Desert Marigold at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; needs full sun for best flowering and compact form.
- Mature size
- 10-18 in H x 12-18 in W
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- Bright yellow, Long season, primarily spring through fall (March-October), and nearly year-round in mild conditions with adequate moisture.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about 0-10 F (USDA zones 7-11); heat loving.
- Soil
- Sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils; tolerates very poor, dry, alkaline soils. Sharp drainage is essential.
- Native range
- Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave Deserts of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, including throughout southern Arizona.
- Best used as
- Groundcover and naturalized masses, Wildflower meadows, Roadside and desert revegetation, Rock gardens, Pollinator plantings
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators; foliage is generally avoided by browsing wildlife.
- Toxicity
- Toxic to livestock (especially sheep and goats) if grazed in quantity; contains compounds that can be harmful to grazing animals. Not a typical concern for pets in landscapes but best not ingested.
How to grow Desert Marigold in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Extremely drought tolerant; survives on rainfall once established. Occasional deep summer water (every 2-3 weeks) extends bloom, but overwatering shortens its life and causes rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
None needed; prefers lean, infertile soil. Fertilizing is unnecessary and can reduce flowering and longevity.
Pruning & care
Shear off spent flower stalks to prolong bloom and tidy the plant. Generally short-lived (1-3 years) but reseeds readily to maintain stands.
Notes
A woolly, silver-gray-leaved short-lived perennial or annual that self-sows to form drifts of bright yellow daisies. Iconic Sonoran Desert wildflower used as a low, mounding groundcover/wildflower. Let it set seed to perpetuate.
Sources: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Tohono Chul plant guides