Sunflower Red Torch
‘Mexican Torch’
Tithonia rotundifolia
Bright red-orange flowers with a yellow center are also called “Mexican Sunflower”’ with bushier growth, a longer flowering duration and smaller blooms than the traditional sunflower. Mexican sunflowers add late-summer color to your garden and floral arrangements and tolerates poor soil, heat, and drought. Flowers attract pollinators and birds summer through late-fall. Flowers can be harvested as a cut flower or left on the stock for seed production.
Seed Count: approximately 25 seeds
Plant Height: 3-6’
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Preference: average fertility, well-draining soil, pH 5.8-6.5
USDA Zones: 2-9 (annual), 10-11 (perennial)
How to Grow
Germination: 7-21 days at 70-85F, light required for germination
Seeding Depth: 1/4” depth
Spacing: 2-3’
Days to Maturity: 60-65 days
Early-Season Seeding: Direct seed outdoors after the last frost date has passed. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date and plant them outside after the danger of frost has passed.
Late-Season Seeding: Direct seed outdoors or start seed indoors at least 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Growing Tips: Low fertilizer rates can be used Pinching is not recommended and will lower yields. Plants will continue to produce flowers if dead blooms are removed.
Cut Flower: Harvest when flowers are completely open, or close to opening and place in warm water for a few hours to improve hydration and lengthen vase-life.
Photo by @kodiaktea
‘Mexican Torch’
Tithonia rotundifolia
Bright red-orange flowers with a yellow center are also called “Mexican Sunflower”’ with bushier growth, a longer flowering duration and smaller blooms than the traditional sunflower. Mexican sunflowers add late-summer color to your garden and floral arrangements and tolerates poor soil, heat, and drought. Flowers attract pollinators and birds summer through late-fall. Flowers can be harvested as a cut flower or left on the stock for seed production.
Seed Count: approximately 25 seeds
Plant Height: 3-6’
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Preference: average fertility, well-draining soil, pH 5.8-6.5
USDA Zones: 2-9 (annual), 10-11 (perennial)
How to Grow
Germination: 7-21 days at 70-85F, light required for germination
Seeding Depth: 1/4” depth
Spacing: 2-3’
Days to Maturity: 60-65 days
Early-Season Seeding: Direct seed outdoors after the last frost date has passed. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date and plant them outside after the danger of frost has passed.
Late-Season Seeding: Direct seed outdoors or start seed indoors at least 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Growing Tips: Low fertilizer rates can be used Pinching is not recommended and will lower yields. Plants will continue to produce flowers if dead blooms are removed.
Cut Flower: Harvest when flowers are completely open, or close to opening and place in warm water for a few hours to improve hydration and lengthen vase-life.
Photo by @kodiaktea
‘Mexican Torch’
Tithonia rotundifolia
Bright red-orange flowers with a yellow center are also called “Mexican Sunflower”’ with bushier growth, a longer flowering duration and smaller blooms than the traditional sunflower. Mexican sunflowers add late-summer color to your garden and floral arrangements and tolerates poor soil, heat, and drought. Flowers attract pollinators and birds summer through late-fall. Flowers can be harvested as a cut flower or left on the stock for seed production.
Seed Count: approximately 25 seeds
Plant Height: 3-6’
Light Requirements: full sun
Soil Preference: average fertility, well-draining soil, pH 5.8-6.5
USDA Zones: 2-9 (annual), 10-11 (perennial)
How to Grow
Germination: 7-21 days at 70-85F, light required for germination
Seeding Depth: 1/4” depth
Spacing: 2-3’
Days to Maturity: 60-65 days
Early-Season Seeding: Direct seed outdoors after the last frost date has passed. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date and plant them outside after the danger of frost has passed.
Late-Season Seeding: Direct seed outdoors or start seed indoors at least 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Growing Tips: Low fertilizer rates can be used Pinching is not recommended and will lower yields. Plants will continue to produce flowers if dead blooms are removed.
Cut Flower: Harvest when flowers are completely open, or close to opening and place in warm water for a few hours to improve hydration and lengthen vase-life.
Photo by @kodiaktea