TAGETES lemonii

Tagetes is a small group from Arizona and Mexico best known for its colorful annual members now developed into numerous color forms and widely used as bedding plants and as companion plants to deter soil-borne pests in the garden. T. lemmonii is less well known. It is the only shrubby perennial member of the group and can reach 1.2 x 1.2 m in size. A stunning addition to any garden, it has feathery divided leaves which smell of ripe passion fruit when brushed even lightly, and a profusion of rich golden yellow daisy flowers in the colder months when not a lot is flowering. Best grown in full sun in free draining soil, plants will survive wiht very little additional water once established, and they are frost tolerant. Cut back as hard as you like after flowering.