Torch Tithonia
Also called Mexican sunflower. Years ago, I planted a wildflower mix, and the planting was soon dominated by 4-foot tall plants with single, reddish-orange flowers. I never was able to figure out what the flower was until I happened upon a similar planting at the Olbrich Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin. It was tithonia. The tall plants have attractive, soft green foliage with a fairly large number of bright 4"-5" blooms. I find this very striking, especially as a backdrop plant to other vivid colored annuals like zinnias and calendula.
15 seedsĀ
Ā PLANTING
Tithonia speciosa
Annual
Germination:Ā 7-14 days
Germination Temperature:Ā Optimum soil temperatures 70-80ĀŗF
Seed Planting Depth:Ā Sow on the surface, seeds need light to germinate
Starting Indoors:Ā Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Provide 70-80ĀŗF soil temperatures until germination. Transplant 12-24ā apart after the last frost.
Sowing Outdoors:Ā Direct sow outdoors after the last frost, only in areas with long growing seasons
Growth Habit:Ā Ā Upright, branching
Height and Width:Ā 4-6ā x 2-3ā
Spacing:Ā 12-24ā apart
Light Needs:Ā Full sun
Soil Needs:Ā Average to poor, dry, well-drained
Approximate days to flower from seed:Ā Blooms in 85-90 days
Uses:Ā Cut flowers, beds and back of borders, cottage gardens, containers and planters, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, drought tolerant, deer resistant
Care:Ā Ā Deadhead to encourage more flower production. Over-fertilizing will produce plants with more foliage than flowers. Tall plants can benefit from staking
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