Tithonia Seeds - Mexican Sunflower
$3.25
Tithonia rotundifolia
These vibrant, tall beauties will attract all kinds of pollinators to your garden! The orange-red daisy-like flowers with a yellow center are beloved by swallowtail butterflies, hummingbirds, various small and medium sized butterflies, bees, and a variety of songbirds. Tithonia rotundifolia is hardy and easy to grow, especially in poorer and dry soils, and makes a beautiful 4-5’ tall backdrop to any garden. Its long-lasting blooms from summer to fall make this flower a fast favorite in gardens. Deadhead spent blooms and cut or pinch back stems often for a longer bloom time and fuller, sturdier plant. Mexican Sunflowers make a fantastic cut flower and are deer and drought resistant. Tithonia seeds are easy to save and grow year after year in your garden.
Direct seed or transplant into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Tithonia will need full sun and well-draining soil. Water well to ensure good germination. Once germinated, tithonia will need at least an inch of water per week. Typically grown for flowers. Annual.
- Planting Information
- How to Grow
- Seed Saving
Min. Seeds per Packet | Average packet weight | Seeds / gram | Average seeds / oz |
| 18 | 0.3 gram | 83 | 2,300 |
| Planting Season | Ideal Soil Temp | Sun | Frost Tolerance |
| After Last Frost | 70-80°F | Full Sun | Frost Sensitive |
| Sowing Method | Seed Depth | Direct Seed Spacing | Days to Harvest |
| Direct Seed | 1/4" | 4-8" | 80-90 |
| Mature Spacing | Days to Sprout | Production Cycle | Seed Viability |
| 12-18" | 7-14 | Annual | 3-4 years |
How to plant Mexican Sunflower seeds?
Tithonia rotundifolia seeds should be barely covered with dirt since Mexican Sunflower seeds need light to germinate. Once the Mexican Sunflower seedlings are three inches tall, thin seeds to 12 inches apart for mature spacing. Without proper spacing Mexican Sunflower plants will not reach their full growing potential. Dead head and cut blooms often for thicker, sturdy plants.
Plants may need to be staked and protected from wind, as these tall plants can become brittle and fall over when they reach their full height. Mexican Sunflowers often reseed themselves and come back year after year if the seed pods are left on the plant. Tithonia can be grown as a perennial plant in zones 9-11.
When to plant Mexican Sunflower seeds?
Mexican Sunflower seeds can be directly sown outside after all danger of frost has passed in a full sun area. If you’d like to get a jump start on the growing season, you can start Mexican Sunflower seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. Once all danger of frost has passed, Mexican Sunflower plants can be planted outside in a well draining full sun area.
Where to plant Mexican Sunflower seeds?
Mexican Sunflowers are tall plants that do best in the back border of gardens so as not to shade out smaller plants. They can benefit from staking and wind protection, or being placed next to other tall plants such as other sunflowers for support. They like full sun and hot, dry locations with well-draining soil and little water.
How often to water Mexican Sunflower seeds?
Tithonia rotundifolia are native to Central America and Mexico, so they prefer hot and dry locations with little water. It is important to keep them moist for germination, but once the seedling is established, it does not need very much water at all and should not be watered more than 1” a week.
What do Mexican Sunflower seeds look like?
Tithonia seeds are triangular in shape with a little crown on the wide end.
How to Harvest Mexican Sunflower seeds?
Tithonia seeds will be ready to harvest once the seed pod after a spent flower is brown and dry. Cut these dry pods and collect them in a container or paper bag of your choice, as long as it is clean and completely dry. To separate the seeds from the seed pods, lay the pods out on a working surface. Wearing gloves while separating the seeds from the pod is recommended, as Tithonia seed pods can be very prickly. Squeeze, roll, and pull apart the pod until the seeds start to fall out on their own. You can separate the seeds from the chaff (the excess plant matter) by hand, but it is much easier to shake and blow into a container, or shake in front of a fan, to blow off the lighter material and the heavier seeds will stay in the bottom of the container. Collect these seeds and store in a cool, dry place for next season.