Arcadian Blend Mexican Sunflower is a care-free annual wildflower native to Mexico and South America, celebrated for its stunning three-inch blooms in tangerine, crimson, and canary hues. These vigorous, well-branched plants stretch 4 to 7 feet tall and flower reliably in 98 to 100 days, creating a moving tapestry of color from midsummer through frost. Hardy in zones 2 through 11, it thrives in full sun and demands minimal fussing, while attracting pollinators and beneficial insects in remarkable abundance.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
84in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The sheer exuberance of Arcadian Blend sets it apart. Plants literally become smothered in blooms, each one three inches across, flowering prolifically once they reach maturity. This heirloom variety grows tall and architectural, perfect for the back of borders where it can reach its full four to seven feet without shading neighbors. The combination of tangerine, crimson, and golden yellow creates a warm, fiery palette that captures the essence of its Mexican heritage.
Arcadian Blend excels as a cut flower, with sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms that bring warmth indoors. In the garden, it serves as a pollinator magnet, drawing bees and beneficial insects that benefit the entire landscape. Its height and dramatic color make it invaluable as a late-season backdrop in mixed borders, and it thrives even in poor or depleted soil where other plants falter.
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Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your last frost date. Maintain soil temperature at 50 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable sprouting, which typically occurs within seven to fourteen days. Keep the seedling environment warm and well-lit once germination begins.
Harden off seedlings gradually over seven to ten days before moving them to the garden, then transplant after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart in their final locations.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date once soil temperatures have reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Lightly cover seeds, as light aids germination.
For cut flowers, harvest in the morning after dew has dried, cutting stems just above a leaf node. Blooms continue opening throughout the season, so deadheading spent flowers encourages even more prolific flowering and extends the display into fall.
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“Tithonia rotundifolia hails from Mexico and South America, where it has grown wild for centuries as a robust, self-reliant wildflower. The Arcadian Blend cultivar represents a selection within this species, chosen by heirloom seed savers for the range and intensity of its flower colors and its exceptional vigor. By preserving and distributing this variety, seed keepers have ensured that gardeners today can grow a plant that echoes the native flora of the Americas.”