Guide to growing Mexican Sunflower - Tithonia
Tithonia are half hardy annuals that range from 60cm to 1.2M in height.
They bloom from summer through to autumn when they carry flowers reminiscent of sunflowers; flowers may be yellow, orange or red.
Some common names for Tithonia include Mexican Sunflower and Golden flower of the Incas.
How to grow Mexican Sunflower
When growing Mexican Sunflower and other Tithonia plants it is best to start them off indoors unless you live in a very warm area. Start off about 7 or 8 weeks before you expect the last frost of winter / spring. The Mexican sunflower seeds should be sown on the soil surface, and will take from half to two weeks to germinate at a temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade.
The young seedlings of Mexican sunflowers should be transplanted outdoors following the last frost of spring at a spacing of around 60cm apart. Tithonia species shouls be grown in sunny areas of the garden and like a light soil.
Caring for Mexican Sunflowers
It is quite easy to care for Mexican Sunflowers and other Tithonia. They are quite tall so provide them with a stake, they like hot dry areas, so only provide with water during drought. As Mexican sunflowers are annuals they should be grown from seed, so don't take cuttings or divide the plants for purposes of propagation.