The African Marigold, like other marigolds, is an annual, so it will die. Sometime. More than that, we have no idea what your neighbor was referring to.
But you want it to survive and it should: it thrives under hot, dry conditions (that means do not give it too much water!)
Here’s some more info on the plant in general: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene415d.html
And here’s information from a local (Nevada) cooperative extension about a wide variety of plants for your conditions: https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2001/sp0115.pdf
The African Marigold, like other marigolds, is an annual, so it will die. Sometime. More than that, we have no idea what your neighbor was referring to.
But you want it to survive and it should: it thrives under hot, dry conditions (that means do not give it too much water!)
Here’s some more info on the plant in general: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene415d.html
And here’s information from a local (Nevada) cooperative extension about a wide variety of plants for your conditions: https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2001/sp0115.pdf