SUNFLOWER MEXICAN TITHONIA ‘RED TORCH’ ‘Red Torch”

Characteristics

• Type: Annual • Water: Dry to medium • Zone: 2 to 11 • Maintenance: Low • Height: 4.00 to 6.00 feet • Suggested Use: Annual • Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet • Flower: Showy • Bloom Time: July to Frost • Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies • Bloom: Red with yellow center disk • Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil • Sun: Full sun

Culture

The incredible 3 - 4 inch red flowers of Mexican Sunflower Red Torch are excellent for cutting. They also are butterfly magnets, particularly the Monarch butterfly. Red Torch will begin blooming in July or August and continues until frost. Place the Mexican Sunflower behind beds or borders where their coarse texture, rangy habit and vivid flowers will stand above less boisterous plantings. Tithonia may grow as a perennial in USDA Zones 10 - 11. The does well in hot sunny settings and will benefit from deadheading the spent blooms. Warm weather annual that is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well- drained soils in full sun. Plants thrive in summer heat. Plants tolerate poor soils. Avoid rich soils which tend to produce weak-stemmed plants with excess foliage. Purchase new plants in six packs in spring. Plants may also be grown from seed sown directly in the garden at last frost date or, for earlier bloom, started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date. Thin plants to at least 2’ apart. Plants appreciate staking or other support. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom period.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Mexican sunflower, is native to and . It is a vigorous annual that typically grows in a single season to 4-6’ tall. Showy sunflowers (to 4” across) with red rays and orange-yellow disks bloom from mid-summer to fall. Purchase new plants in six packs in spring. Entire or lobed dark green leaves (3- 12” long) with hairy undersides are generally ovate to triangular in shape with serrate to crenate margins. Good cut flower.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Flower heads often broken by birds or squirrels.

Garden Uses

Border backgrounds. Screens.