When gardeners think of marigolds, they think of annual color that lasts from spring to fall. This versatile family of plants also has two notable species that are wonderful perennials in our central Texas gardens: Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida), and Copper Canyon daisy (Tagetes lemonii).

Mexican mint marigold has an enchanting anise fragrance to its leaves and pretty button-size yellow flowers in the fall. Known as yerba anise in Spanish, it emerges in the spring and makes a deeply green...