Plant Name
Scientific Name: Baileya multiradiata
Common Name: Desert Marigold
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland
Flower Color: Yellow disks and rays
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Height: To 18 inches (46 cm) tall
Description: The flower heads are up to 2 inches (5 cm) across and have multiple, stacked layers of toothed rays. The leaves are alternate, narrowly oval in shape, and pinnately-lobed. Both the leaves and the stems are woolly and grayish in color. The very similar B. pleniradiata has smaller flower heads with fewer rays, mostly cauline (stem) leaves and only shallowly-lobed floral rays, while B. multiradiata has mostly basal leaves and distinctly lobed floral rays.
Desert Marigold wildflower seeds are available, and if given some supplemental water during dry periods, this attractive plant has an amazingly long blooming season.
Special Characteristics
Butterfly Plant – The flowers attract butterflies.
Poisonous – This plant is believed to contain Hymenoxon (a sesquiterpene lactone) and is reported to be toxic to livestock.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae – Aster family
Genus: Baileya Harv. & A. Gray ex A. Gray – desert marigold
Species: Baileya multiradiata Harv. & A. Gray ex A. Gray – desert marigold
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