MBN 1Gal Tagetes lemmonii 'Compacta'

Tagetes

lemmonii MEXICAN BUSH MARIGOLD, COPPER

CANYON closeup

habit

famous for its absolutely spectacular display of deep

golden yellow flowers that absolutely cover the plant from late

summer or early fall through late spring. This grows as a shrubby

evergreen perennial, to 4-5’ tall, 6-8’ wide at maturity. The

strongly fragrant, wispy foliage is completely covered by the

dense terminal sprays heaviest under short day conditions, but can

bloom lightly through summer, especially in cool areas. Attracts

clouds of butterflies. Damaged below 25°F, but will come back

quickly from the roots from temps as low as 20°F. At least half

sun, average to little watering. Northern Mexico, southern

Arizona. Compositae/Asteraceae. rev 7/2017

This plant looks great when planted with anything dark purple, especially Tibouchina (if both are planted in part sun, or the sun/shade siting difference can be reconciled) Salvia leucantha ‘Midnight,’ or Verbenas ‘Homestead’ or ‘Tapien Blue Violet.’ It also looks good next to blue flowering shrubs and groundcovers, especially Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue,’ which in addition to matching for color also matches for bloom initiation, both being short day bloomers. Foliage plants such as Calocephalus brownii, Helichrysum petiolatum or H. petiolatum ‘Limelight’ help compliment the color, as do blue-grey plants with strong architectural shapes such as Agave weberii, A. colorata, Yucca rostrata or Y. whipplei. For a real interesting combination, try situating it near Berberis thunbergii varieties, which will offer dark purple foliage for a short time when the Tagetes comes into bloom, then change to lurid pink, orange, red, and salmon tones with the onset of cool temperatures and decreasing daylength. rev 11/2011

'Compacta' young Huntington specimen, 2004 closer all the goodness of the regular sized version, starting with a spectacular, heavy show of deep golden yellow flowers absolutely covering the plant starting in late summer, plus strong marigold fragrance, wispy texture, and drought tolerance, but all on less than half the plant. The flowers initiate faster the shorter the days, so the show runs mostly from late summer through late spring, but light bloom can even occur in summer. This form grows as a recumbent shrublet to about 2' tall by 3-4' wide, filling in with age. It will be cut to the ground by frost below about 25F. This is one of the best plants you can site in your garden for butterflies and beneficial predators/parasitoids. It is by far the best form if you intend to use it in container, or you can't give it the 6' tall by 10' wide spot the regular form can monopolize. Mostly sun, little watering once established. Sunset zones 8, 9, 12-24/USDA 9. rev 11/2011