Skip to main content

Colorado Desert-marigold

Baileya pauciradiata

Last reviewed: June 2026

Colorado Desert-marigold (Baileya pauciradiata)
Photo: iNaturalist user: andmag25 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

6"–12" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AZ, CA, UT

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Browse plants for this ecoregion

A compact perennial wildflower that produces cheerful yellow daisy-like blooms from spring through summer. This low-growing plant forms neat mounds and thrives in hot, dry conditions with minimal water once established.

In an HOA neighborhood

Colorado Desert-marigold takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Wildflower appearance may be considered too informal
  • Unknown leaf retention could mean untidy dormant periods
  • Desert marigold name may suggest weedy characteristics

Wildlife value

The bright yellow flowers attract bees and butterflies throughout the long blooming season. This native wildflower provides nectar from April through July when many other plants are dormant.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Colorado Desert-marigold fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.