Torch Mexican Sunflower
Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch'
flowerTorch is the classic Mexican sunflower, a 1951 All-America Selections winner that rockets to 4 to 6 ft and erupts in brilliant red-orange single daisy blooms all summer. Heat- and drought-loving, it thrives in poor soil and is one of the top butterfly and pollinator plants for the garden.
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Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 7 days
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Bloom
~90 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
18-24 in. apart
⬇️
Planting Depth
Seed 1/4-1/2 in. deep
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Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Poor to average, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
None needed
Fertilizer
None; excess nitrogen cuts blooms
🌱 Growing Guide
Sow seed directly where it will grow once the soil is warm and frost has passed, barely covering it, because Tithonia has a taproot and resents transplanting. Give it full sun and poor to average, well-drained soil, and do not fertilize, since rich soil and excess nitrogen produce tall, floppy, leafy plants with few flowers. Pinch young plants once to encourage branching, and stake tall stands in windy sites. Water deeply but infrequently once established.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 22
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Projected first bloom
Jul 21
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Zinnia — Pairs as a butterfly magnet and fills the lower tier of a pollinator border
- Mammoth Sunflower — Shares full sun and lean soil while feeding bees and seed-eating birds
- Cosmos — An airy companion that draws hoverflies and bees on the same lean diet
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Tithonia is rarely bothered; encourage ladybugs and hose off any clusters on tender tips
Protect young direct-sown seedlings with grit or traps until they toughen up
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Cut stems just as the flowers open, handling the hollow stems gently and using cool water to keep them from wilting. Deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant flowering nonstop until frost; vase life is about 5 to 7 days.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
One of the very best annuals for pollinators: the bright open blooms are a magnet for monarch and swallowtail butterflies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds, and they are a key nectar fuel stop for migrating monarchs in late summer and fall.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.