Plant of the Week: Tithonia
Why didn't I plant this sooner?
Last year was the first year that I had ever grown Tithonia (Tithonia rotundifolia),and I am in love with this easy-to-grow annual. All summer long as it bloomed and bloomed and bloomed I kept asking myself: why haven't I grown this before? And there's a simple answer: I hadn't bought the seeds. I had always just skipped over them thinking that orange color was a little too much for my garden. But I was WRONG.
Tithonia is a group of annual and perennial plants from Central and South America. They are commonly known as "Mexican Sunflower," and like sunflowers they are part of the Asteraceae family. This family is particularly important for insects as they tend to be nectar-rich – and let me tell you, my Tithonia brought ALL the bugs to the yard last year! I watched butterflies land on the bright orange landing-pad flowers and imbibe for months. And the bees and other insects frolicked there as well.
Tithonia is an example of a compound or composite flower – like all members of the Asteraceae family. What looks like one flower is actually hundreds of tiny flowers – all grouped in the center. It's that composite center that makes Tithonia so rich with nectar and pollen and thus such a boon to pollinators – and then birds who eat the seeds.
I grew Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch', the most commonly available Tithonia in garden centers. There are a few other varieties as well, but I am in love with Torch, frankly. The flowers are a brilliant orange which glowed in the afternoon sun and made a striking display, visible from across the garden. There is also a variety called Tithonia 'Yellow Torch' with a similar habit but yellow blooms with more petals.
The flowers are smaller than a sunflower, and the plants are smaller, and a little easier to corral. But they have similar benefits for wildlife. And Tithonia will do well in larger pots which is a bonus!
Tithonia Tips
Timing
Because my growing season is so short, I started my plants from seed in late-March and planted them out in the garden in early-May. You can also direct-sow Tithonia after your last frost date.
My plants started blooming the first week of July and they bloomed non-stop until our first killing frost at the end of October. And by non-stop I really mean non-stop! They bloomed and bloomed and bloomed! I deadheaded every few weeks until mid-September when I let it go to seed, but honestly, I didn't see a reduction in blooms even after it was going to seed.
Cut Flowers
Tithonia doesn't have an extraordinary vase life (maybe 4-6 days), but it is really beautiful in a vase or a bouquet, and the foliage makes a lovely filler, too. I planted it in my cutting garden, and it certainly works as a home-grown cut flower. But it's equally as beneficial for wildlife which I love.
Plant for Height
Tithonia gets tall – 4 ft to 6 ft depending on the variety. It's great at the back of a border which is where I will plant it this year. Last year I planted it in some taller raised beds and trained it on some supports. It didn't end up having quite the effect I hoped for, so I'll be moving them this year – probably to the Orchard.
Pinch Back
When your Tithonia plant is 12-18" tall and has multiple sets of leaves, cut it down to 8" tall just above a leaf node. This will encourage branching and a bushier plant which can also be sturdier in windy conditions.
Shelter or Support
Tithonia stems are hollow which can make them a little brittle in heavy winds. So either plant them where they are sheltered from prevailing winds, or provide a little support. I had planted them tied loosely to tent poles which was nice, but I think this year, I will put them in the orchard where they don't have to bend with the supports.
Watch for Wildlife
In the four months that my Tithonia bloomed last year, I saw a wide range of bees and hoverflies enjoying nectar from the flowers, but also hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, Monarch butterflies, and a whole host of other butterflies and moths. Then once the flowers had gone to seed, the chickadees and other small birds arrived, picking the seedheads clean for months. In all, I had more than 6 months of wildlife interactions with this one variety – that I know of!
So, as you are headed to the garden center, grab a packet of Tithonia seeds. They are a beauty that I will never pass up again!
What's your experience growing Tithonia? What varieties have you tried? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Gardening!
Angela
I love these flowers too! They go crazy in the heat!
One of my favourite for the back of the border - don't underestimate how much space they need!