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Tithonia rotundifolia is often confused with:
Zinnia elegans Zinnia elegans
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cosmos bipinnatus Bumblebee pollinator
Verbena bonariensis Form
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis

Tithonia rotundifolia

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
tih-THO-nee-ah ro-tun-dih-FOH-lee-ah
Description

The Mexican Sunflower is an annual in the aster family that is native to Mexico and Central America. It is fast-growing reaching 3-6 feet with plenty of orangy-red 3-inch blooms that attract bees and butterflies from mid-summer to fall. Plant in full sun in average well-drained soils. This plant does best in poorer soils and may need staking due to its tall size. It is deer and drought tolerant

Use this plant in the back of the border in cutting gardens, drought-tolerant gardens and pollinator gardens. Dead-head to prolong the bloom season. Mexican Sunflower can be started from seed after the last frost date or purchased as plants.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#orange flowers#fall interest#summer flowers#deer resistant#rock garden#cutting garden#pollinator plant#poor soils tolerant#border back#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#orange flowers#fall interest#summer flowers#deer resistant#rock garden#cutting garden#pollinator plant#poor soils tolerant#border back#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Tithonia
    Species:
    rotundifolia
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico and Central America
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Tolerates deer, drought, heat, and dry soil.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruits are brown achenes, in a round spiky mass.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are showy up to 3 inches across. Orange-red ray flowers surround the orangy-yellow disc flowers from July to fall. Deadhead to prolong bloom.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Deltoid
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3-12 inch long oval to triangular leaves have hairy undersides. Some leaves may be 3-lobed, margins are serrate to crenate
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Slightly ridged and hairy stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat