Natural History

The Desert Marigold is a member of the sunflower family. The plant is an annual herb and grows to a height of about 2 feet and has grayish, fuzzy leaves to 3 inches in length.  The marigold grows in disturbed areas near roadsides and on rocky slopes and sandy, gravelly areas below 5000 feet in elevation.
 

The plant blooms between March and October and produces a bright yellow, daisy-like flower to 2 inches in diameter. As the flower ages, the petals may become bleached and take on the texture of tissue paper.