PlantFiles: Mexican Sunflower
Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch'

Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch' is one of the very best butterfly attractors that I have found. It has a BEAUTIFUL flower and grows very well in central/south Florida growing conditions. It attracts myriads of bees and butterflies of every kind. I grew it last year for the first time and will never be without it from now on.

I have passiflora incarnata plants which are host to the fritillary butterfly larvae. I had numerous cats who hatched out to enjoy this plant sometimes with two or more on one flowers. The bubblebees seem to like it since it is a substantial landing pad for them.

Mexican Sunflower has reseeded for the past three years in my Zone 8 garden, although this has been the first year the deer have devoured the young plants. Butterflies and hummingbirds feast on the orange flowers, adding to the charm of this back-of-the-border plant.

I've enjoyed Mexican Sunflower in a combination with the burgundy leaves of castor bean plant with a skirt of a 2' orange lantana and edged with Melampodium.

I absolutely love Tithonia even tho it's an annual for me. The bright orange color never disappoints.

This is my favorite plant, the butterflies' favorite, and the hummingbirds' favorite as well. It does get a little leggy, and the dead leaves have to be pruned regularly. I have it planted with the red salvia Faye Chapel and it looks great. I will try to never be without it!

I planted this for the first time this year from a free seed packet. They are close to 6 feet tall. (I watered them almost daily before I read that they had some drought tolerance) I planted it in a fecned off garden to keep it portected from the wildlife (groundhags and rabbits especially). Next year I want to plant it outside the fence with some of my other butterfly plants. Has anyone had experience as to whether it will get eaten?

Grew these from seed indoors, for the first time. Easy to grow. They are fast growers. I like the intense orange color. I have a few in a groundhog-prone area and so far have NOT had any eaten (knock on wood).

This brought the first monarch butterfly I've seen in my yard. It's lovely, vibrant, pest resistant... I'm growing tons more next year.

This plant has super colour, super flowers, super habit, and super butterfly and bee attraction. It is one of my favourite plants.

I have grown this plant successfully as a summer annual in Auckland, New Zealand. I'm expecting that I will also grow it successfully in Wellington, New Zealand this summer.

Mine have grown to about 8 feet tall, but no flowers! They've been growing all summer. What do I need to do to get flowers? Any advice?
Clawton