Ornamental
Torch Mexican Sunflower is a vibrant, heat-loving annual that brings tropical flair to summer and fall gardens with its brilliant orange blooms. This heirloom reaches a sturdy 6 feet tall and produces flowers reliably 84 to 98 days from seed, thriving in zones 9 through 11 where frost is rare. Low water needs and a preference for full sun make it an excellent choice for hot, dry climates, while its prolific blooms and nectar-rich flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators all season long.
Full Sun
Low
9-11
72in H x 36in W
Perennial
Moderate
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Orange flowers appear reliably from early summer through the first frost, blooming over a span of six months from June through November. Once established, this plant shrugs off drought with ease, asking only for full sun and well-draining soil. The tall, sturdy stems reach 6 feet without staking, and the plant's minimal fertilizer needs mean less fussing and more flowers. It's a heirloom variety that thrives on neglect in the right climate, rewarding gardeners with continuous color when most other flowers have faded.
Torch Mexican Sunflower is grown primarily as an ornamental flower for garden displays, cutting, and as a pollinator magnet in drought-resistant landscapes. The abundant orange blooms provide color from early summer through late fall, making it especially valuable in regions where other perennials have stopped flowering.
Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Press seeds into the soil surface or just barely cover them with soil (no deeper than 1/8 inch). Keep the soil at 70 to 75°F until germination, which occurs in 5 to 10 days. Once sprouted, reduce temperature to 60°F to grow sturdy seedlings.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date once soil has warmed. When seedlings reach 2 to 3 inches tall, thin to one plant every 24 inches. Transplanting is recommended over direct sowing for earlier, more reliable blooms.
Direct sow seeds after your last frost date, 1 to 2 weeks after the frost-free date in your region. Press seeds into the soil surface; they need light to germinate.
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