Identifying Features

The desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) is a member of the Asteraceae family. The members of this family are characterized by individual florets arranged in dense heads making the floret group look like one single flower. On the marigold the clusters form a head 2 inches in diameter and are bright yellow in color. The leaves are green with silver-white hairs, lobed, and grow very low on the thick stems.

Habitat

These plants can be found growing on sandy or gravelly soils of roadsides, plains, washes, mesas, and pinyon-juniper communities.

Range

Desert marigolds can be found across southern Arizona, southern Nevada and southwestern Utah, south into Sonora Mexico, and through the Chihuahuan Desert to Texas.

Life Span

Desert marigolds are considered perennial plants and therefore live for more than two growing seasons.

Size

They can grow to be 1-2 feet tall and 2 feet across.

Quick Facts

• Desert marigold either fresh or dried, are poisonous to goats and sheep, but not to cattle or horses.