The bright yellow daisies of Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) make a dramatic color statement in the landscape — especially when planted in masses. This Chihuahuan desert native is at home in both low- and high-desert regions of the American Southwest and will impress you with its colorful flowers that appear in spring and again in fall. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Botanical name: Chrysactinia mexicana
Common name: Damianita
Origin: Native to the high desert regions of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico
USDA zones: 7 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Low
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 1 foot to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Tolerances: Drought tolerant but does best with supplemental watering
Seasonal interest: Golden, yellow daisy-like flowers appear in spring through fall; in hotter climates the blooms will taper off in the summer but will return in fall.
When to plant: Plant seeds or container plants in fall or spring. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Distinguishing traits. Damianita is a shrub whose low height makes it a perfect ground cover. Its dark green foliage is made up of tiny, aromatic, needle-like leaves that are completely covered with small daisy-like yellow flowers beginning in spring. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting How to use it. Damianita’s bright yellow flowers contrast well with most colors in the landscape, including red and purple. Try it with firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii), whose orange-red flowers provide a colorful punch when paired with the yellow-flowering damianita.

Both Damianita’s soft shape and yellow flowers are shown off to great effect when it’s planted next to purple prickly pear cactus (Opuntia violaceae var. santa-rita) or other gray-blue succulents, such as agave and common sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri).

Plant Damianita in groups of at least three to achieve the best color impact. It looks great in borders, along swimming pools on slopes and next to boulders. Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting Planting notes. This low-maintenance ground cover needs well-drained soil. It does well in areas with full, reflected sun. Avoid planting it in shade, which will cause legginess.

This desert native is not fussy and needs minimal attention to look its best. Prune back dead wood in spring and lightly shear it after flowering to promote additional flushes of bloom.

Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, Damianita is at home in most regions of the American Southwest. No fertilizer or soil amendments are needed. Water it once a week during the warmer months and every two to three weeks during winter.