Torch Tithonia is a Mexican native that transforms gardens with blazing red-orange flowers from midsummer through fall frost. This tall annual, reaching 5 to 6 feet, belongs to the same family as zinnias and sunflowers but brings its own distinctive character to borders and backgrounds. Hardy in zones 4 through 11, it thrives in full sun and blooms approximately 75 days after sowing, drawing hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees in waves once the heat of summer arrives.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-11
60in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Torch Tithonia earns its 'Mexican Sunflower' nickname with flowers that blaze bright red-orange against lush foliage, yet the blooms carry the layered complexity of zinnias rather than sunflowers. The real draw is timing: while many annuals fade in peak heat, this variety ignites exactly when the thermometer climbs, delivering continuous color into autumn. At 5 to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it commands attention in the back of a border, rewarding patient gardeners who wait for midsummer with an explosion of magnetizing blooms.
Torch Tithonia functions as a tall background plant for mixed flower borders, where its substantial height and prolific blooms create visual depth and structure. The flowers attract pollinators at a time when many gardens are waning, and gardeners value it for filling late-season gaps with reliable color and wildlife activity.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date, keeping soil temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Maintain moist (not soggy) soil and provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions in increasing increments. Space plants 24 inches apart, with 36 inches between rows.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit, pressing seeds into the soil surface or covering them very lightly.
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“Native to Mexico, Torch Tithonia carries the genetic heritage of wild Tithonia rotundifolia, a plant long cultivated by indigenous communities and later embraced by gardeners across North America. This cultivar represents the selection and refinement of the species' most ornamental qualities, particularly the vivid red-orange flower color and robust flowering habit that extends deep into the season.”