Tithonia, Mexican Sunflower 'Torch'

Since we live in a short season area, I used Jiffy plant pellets to start the seeds in late March about the same time as my tomatoes, tra...Read Morensplanting around June 1st. Now the 6' plants are in full bloom in mid-August. Beautiful bright orange flowers attract loads of bumble bees and hummingbirds, but the hollow stems are a bit flimsy for cut flower use. If you do cut the stems, be careful not to break them. This is definitely a "look here" plant that attracts startling attention in the garden, worth a try almost anywhere. An easy seed saver, and may reseed in some areas.

I may have planted these seeds a little late, about mid June, but so far there have only been two blooms on about 5 or 6 plants. They are...Read More beautiful but wish there were more. Also, there are some caterpillars eating holes in the leaves. Most of them still look fine, but some are showing some damage- wilting, yellowing and browning. Any suggestions? Thanks!

What are some tips on growing this plant without it turning brown and dying? I buy this each year at out botanical gardens plant sale....Read Morer />
Two years ago it grew great, I loved the orange flowers in my butterfly garden, and no problems.

Last year about August, it just died one day.

This year my plants are looking mangy. Not sure what to do to keep them from dying.

Any ideas?

I wasn't sure these would even bloom for me, since I got them planted out pretty late, but lo and behold, buds began to form. The first o...Read Morene popped a couple of days ago, and let me tell you, this is the brightest orange I have ever seen. I mean retina-searing, see it from down the street orange. I'm in love. :D If you're a freak for the hot colors like I am, you really need to grow this plant.

I've grown "torch" from seed 2 years now, and they self-sowed everywhere but the driest site of 3 in full sun. They are worth watering, ...Read Morebut I would not call them drought tolerant--I would call them more of a drought meter! They wilt first at over 85 until the sun goes down unless they get approx. 3/4" of water every 3-4 days in well mulched beds, even. They get as tall as the soil is good. If they are not blooming by the 1st week in Aug. (Z5b), I would look into whether my soil has too much nitrogen, esp. if they're tall and very green but unblooming. Also low phosphorus. They should be 4-5' apart in good soil. Take warm water out to dunk them in immediately, rinse and cut stems and change water daily, and they will last over a week in vases. If you don't like orange, grow some of these with purple basil or something blue, and I bet you'll like these! I have many deer, rabbits, moles and squirrels and they have never touched it--but they all have different tastes.

I'm in SW Nebraska panhandle on the CO border, zone 4 &5. Planted Botanical Interest Torch Mexican sunflowers from seed last year crowde...Read Mored into rather shallow metal containers in full sun and wild NE wind, slightly sheltered overhead by a pergola. Mostly ignored them except for daily watering and deadheading. They grew nearly 6 feet tall, bloomed and bloomed and attracted swarms of bumblebees and monarch butterflies. Want them everywhere in the garden this year. Anyone recommend any seed source just as successful as Botanical Interest?

this flower grows very well here, columbus, ga. i just harvest some of the seeds and plan to grow some more in the spring! its november a...Read Morend i still have a beautiful display of color. the seeds are very easy to harvest.

This is by far one of the most unusual annuals in my garden.
It started out as somewhat wilty and wimpy. Then we started wateri...Read Moreng it. It took off! The flowers are 2"-5" wide and are the most electrifying shade of orange. The blue leaves cool the shocking shades. The leaves are just like velvet! And so are the stems. But, BE CAREFUL! The stems are very easily broken and damaged.
The flowers just keep coming! The Ipomoea tricolor 'Blue Star' I planted 4' away then started growing, but I have not seen the Tithonia in a while! Hope it is OK.

I can't help but LOVE this plant. The velvety leaves and stems the beautiful flowers and THE BUTTERFLIES AND HUMMINGBIRDS .... OH MY !!!...Read More! :D I have never seen sooo many hummingbirds & butterflies in my garden ever!! They seem to flock to this plants flowers. It's WELL worth having. These got 6' 4" Tall!! And it still seems to be growing :D

I planted this for the first time last summer. The plants took over a 3X3 grow bed and grew to over 5 feet tall. They bloomed from June...Read More until the first hard freeze in October. They also self sowed for this year. I just cut my first flowers today. They are great for cutting and will last about a week in a vase. When they come up in the yard all I have to do is mow over them one time and they don't come back so they are not a problem in that area either.

Orlando. 6' tall. Ample, strong.
Full sun. Unfertilized. Good drainage.

I planted it for flowers for butterfly f...Read Moreood.
Four pitiful flowers a few weeks ago, didn't last long.

Mine have grown to about 8 feet tall, but no flowers! They've been growing all summer. What do I need to do to get flowers?

This plant has super colour, super flowers, super habit, and super butterfly and bee attraction. It is one of my favourite plants.
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I have grown this plant successfully as a summer annual in Auckland, New Zealand. I'm expecting that I will also grow it successfully in Wellington, New Zealand this summer.

This brought the first monarch butterfly I've seen in my yard. It's lovely, vibrant, pest resistant... I'm growing tons more next year.

Grew these from seed indoors, for the first time. Easy to grow. They are fast growers. I like the intense orange color. I have a few ...Read Morein a groundhog-prone area and so far have NOT had any eaten (knock on wood).

I planted this for the first time this year from a free seed packet. They are close to 6 feet tall. (I watered them almost daily before I...Read More read that they had some drought tolerance) I planted it in a fecned off garden to keep it portected from the wildlife (groundhags and rabbits especially). Next year I want to plant it outside the fence with some of my other butterfly plants. Has anyone had experience as to whether it will get eaten?

This is my favorite plant, the butterflies' favorite, and the hummingbirds' favorite as well. It does get a little leggy, and the dead le...Read Moreaves have to be pruned regularly. I have it planted with the red salvia Faye Chapel and it looks great. I will try to never be without it!

I absolutely love Tithonia even tho it's an annual for me. The bright orange color never disappoints.

Mexican Sunflower has reseeded for the past three years in my Zone 8 garden, although this has been the first year the deer have devoured...Read More the young plants. Butterflies and hummingbirds feast on the orange flowers, adding to the charm of this back-of-the-border plant.

I've enjoyed Mexican Sunflower in a combination with the burgundy leaves of castor bean plant with a skirt of a 2' orange lantana and edged with Melampodium.

I have passiflora incarnata plants which are host to the fritillary butterfly larvae. I had numerous cats who hatched out to enjoy this p...Read Morelant sometimes with two or more on one flowers. The bubblebees seem to like it since it is a substantial landing pad for them.

Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch' is one of the very best butterfly attractors that I have found. It has a BEAUTIFU...Read MoreL flower and grows very well in central/south Florida growing conditions. It attracts myriads of bees and butterflies of every kind. I grew it last year for the first time and will never be without it from now on.