Search
Latest topics
» N & C Midwest: November/December 2023by JAM23 Today at 6:49 pm
» Mark's first SFG
by OhioGardener Today at 3:13 pm
» Strawberry Varieties?
by sanderson Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:57 pm
» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson Mon Dec 04, 2023 1:27 pm
» Jerusalem Artichoke or Sun Choke
by Scorpio Rising Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:09 am
» Strawberries in MM: to feed or not to feed?
by sanderson Sun Dec 03, 2023 7:30 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener Wed Nov 29, 2023 5:36 am
» Senseless Banter...
by sanderson Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:31 pm
» FREE Online SFG Class - November 28, 2023
by sanderson Mon Nov 27, 2023 9:21 pm
» Mini-Raised Beds?
by Chuck d'Argy Mon Nov 27, 2023 2:14 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by sanderson Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:58 pm
» Name the mystery (to me) seedlings! :-)
by Psdumas Sat Nov 25, 2023 12:04 am
» Happy Thanksgiving from the USA
by sanderson Thu Nov 23, 2023 1:47 pm
» Guatemalan Green Ayote Squash
by OhioGardener Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:27 am
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson Mon Nov 20, 2023 2:06 pm
» Seeds 'n Such Early Order Seeds
by sanderson Mon Nov 20, 2023 1:13 pm
» USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
by OhioGardener Sun Nov 19, 2023 7:12 am
» AeroGarden for starting seeds?
by OhioGardener Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:40 pm
» Biochar?
by OhioGardener Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:31 am
» 2023 - Updated U.S. Interactive Plant Hardiness Map
by sanderson Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:18 pm
» SFG Is Intensive Gardening
by sanderson Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:26 pm
» Teaming with Microbes Kindle Sale (Mem. Day weekend 2023)
by markqz Fri Nov 10, 2023 12:42 am
» Bok Choy Hors d'oeuvres
by donnainzone5 Thu Nov 09, 2023 5:58 pm
» Now is the Time to Start Preparing Next Year's Spring Garden
by OhioGardener Thu Nov 09, 2023 7:13 am
» Shocking Reality: Is Urine the Ultimate Gardening Hack or Disaster?
by dstack Mon Nov 06, 2023 5:29 pm
» Nightmare on Mel Street.
by Scorpio Rising Sat Nov 04, 2023 6:37 pm
» Aerogardening
by Scorpio Rising Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:02 am
» Sunday All Purpose Organic Garden Nutrients
by lisawallace88 Fri Nov 03, 2023 9:13 am
» Mid-summer seed sowing, how do you do it?
by KiwiSFGnewbie Thu Nov 02, 2023 8:04 pm
» N&C Midwest October 2023
by OhioGardener Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:49 am
Google
Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
+2
Ihv2gratkids
junequilt
6 posters
Page 1 of 1
Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
Others have posted photos of their sunflowers, so I thought I'd post some of mine, even though they're in the ground rather than a square foot bed. These are not actual sunflowers, but rather tithonia or Mexican sunflowers. They love heat and humidity and don't mind growing in sand (although they prefer some enrichment and consistent watering). This is a clump of 4 or 5. Some of them are over 7 feet tall, and the clump is at least 8' in diameter.

This is a closeup of some of the blooms.

The plants are surprisingly shallow-rooted so it's best to stake them, but I tend to forget about it until we have a late-season heavy rainstorm and the next thing I know, they've fallen over, LOL! It's easy to correct, though.
One of the great benefits of growing Mexican sunflowers is that butterflies are crazy for the blooms! Hummingbirds and all kinds of other beneficials also come to sip the nectar.
As with Malabar spinach, this is one of those annuals you only have to buy seed for once. After than, they will seed themselves liberally, and transplant well as long as you keep the seedlings moist while they settle into their new space. I give away dozens of seedlings every spring.
Let me know if you would like some seeds for next year!

This is a closeup of some of the blooms.

The plants are surprisingly shallow-rooted so it's best to stake them, but I tend to forget about it until we have a late-season heavy rainstorm and the next thing I know, they've fallen over, LOL! It's easy to correct, though.
One of the great benefits of growing Mexican sunflowers is that butterflies are crazy for the blooms! Hummingbirds and all kinds of other beneficials also come to sip the nectar.
As with Malabar spinach, this is one of those annuals you only have to buy seed for once. After than, they will seed themselves liberally, and transplant well as long as you keep the seedlings moist while they settle into their new space. I give away dozens of seedlings every spring.
Let me know if you would like some seeds for next year!
junequilt- Posts : 319
Join date : 2010-03-22
Location : Columbia, SC (Zone 8)
don3727 and Scigal like this post
Re: Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
I just love sunflowers.
They can brighten up any day.
They can brighten up any day.
Ihv2gratkids-
Posts : 7
Join date : 2010-08-26
Age : 50
Location : Oklahoma
Re: Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
HOW PRETTY!!!!!!
cabinfever- Posts : 66
Join date : 2011-03-04
Location : MN
Re: Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
That is just gorgeous, junequilt! Thank you so much for the pictures. I've been thinking that I'd love to grow some Mexican sunflowers, but now I realize I don't have room for them. Good to know.
Re: Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
They really are pretty. I had forgotten about them. I grew some years ago and they were at the edge of my big garden. It was dangerous at times because the bumble bees absolutely loved them. They swarmed the tithonia. I think I'll try to find some seed at Walmart or Lowe's next week since I'm trying to build my bee population back up. I'll just be careful where I plant them this time. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Mexican Sunflowers are tremendous!
Mexican Sunflower blooms are tremendous! They attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds from June to first frost in Middle Tennessee, which was the 31st October in 2020, with little to no maintenance. If you want to assist pollinators in late season, this would have to be one of my top choices.
don3727- Posts : 1
Join date : 2011-11-05
Location : Nashville, TN
Re: Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
Those are gorgeous! I had forgotten about them, but I grew them many years ago and the bees went bonkers for them. Fortunately, we had a bee hive relocate to a tree about 200 feet from our garden last summer. I would be interested in a few seeds.
As for malabar spinach, does it taste like regular spinach?
Happy Gardening!
As for malabar spinach, does it taste like regular spinach?
Happy Gardening!

» Monarch Supporter
» May Avatar: Not Just Veggies!
» Must try recipe....Mexican Pepper Relish
» Can Mexican oregano be propagated by cuttings?
» Mexican Mole Poblano Inspired Chili
» May Avatar: Not Just Veggies!
» Must try recipe....Mexican Pepper Relish
» Can Mexican oregano be propagated by cuttings?
» Mexican Mole Poblano Inspired Chili
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|