Watch It Grow

Mexican Sunflower

BirdBrain Mexican Sunflower Carousel Bird Feeder - Nature $22.99 Vibrant sunflower designMade of hand painted ceramicTop removes for convenient fillingSturdy steel cable is included for hangingBrighten up your porch or backyard with this cheerful BirdBrain Mexican Sunflower Carousel Bird Feeder. This unique Carousel Bird Feeder is made of hand painted ceramic and features a vibrant sunflower design. Simply remove the top for easy filling and hang with the included steel cable. Manufacturer model : 10204210. Vibrant sunflower designMade of hand painted ceramicTop removes for convenient fillingSturdy steel cable is included for hangingBrighten up your porch or backyard with this cheerful BirdBrain Mexican Sunflower Carousel Bird Feeder. This unique Carous

Sunflower $10 Sunflower

The Mexican $5.99 The Mexican

Diego Rivera Sunflower Garden Art Mexican Framed Tile by CafePress $15 Reproduction of a painting by Diego Rivera Mexican Framed Tile Set off our decorative ceramic tile in its own stylish stained wooden frame -- the perfect way to complete a decorative gift or keepsake. Rounded edges and quality construction make this Framed Tile the ultimate wall accent. Frame measures 6qu

Bird Brain Vintage Bird Feeder Mexican Sunflower $26.71 Both simple and nostalgic, these bird feeders are a blast from the past. Each Vintage Bird Feeder is hand painted with our signature floral designs. depth: 10.5. width: 6.7. length: 6.7 Type: Feeders

Diego Rivera Art Girasoles Sunflower Mexican Tile Coaster by CafePress $10 Reproduction of a painting by Diego Rivera showing a girl with sunflowers. Mexican Tile Coaster Liven up any room or party with our fun, hip tile coasters, measuring 4.25 x 4.25 and 1/6-inch thick. Images are applied with a polyester resin that accepts dye as part of the coating. Four felt pads protect your furniture from scratches. Dish

This Is the Sunflower $31.65 This book, based on the rhyme THIS IS THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, explains the life cycle of the sunflower. With color illustrations.

Sunflower Sandals $10 Sunflower Sandals

Sunflower Heart $10 Sunflower Heart

Sunflower Bear $10 Sunflower Bear

Blooming Sunflower $10 Blooming Sunflower

Sunflower Field $10 Sunflower Field

Sunflower At Christmas, A $8.99 Sunflower At Christmas, A

Sunflower Sutra $12.49 Sunflower Sutra

Sunflower Sea $339 Sunflower Sea

The Sunflower $21.4 In an attempt to heal a broken heart by helping others, Christine travels to Peru to work at an orphanage. She finds the work rewarding, but then contracts a tropical fever and is nursed to recovery by Paul, the orphanage`s founder. The two fall in love, and now Christine must decide whether to stay in Peru with the man she loves, or return to her unsatisfactory life back in the states. THE SUNFLOWER, like the other novels by Richard Paul Evans, is unabashedly romantic, and this time the love story takes place in exotic setting that includes an eco-lodge where Christine hunts crocodiles. (The Sunflower is the name of an orphanage supported by a foundation Evans created in Peru.)

Bird Brain BIRDBRAIN5087 Vintage Bird Fdr Mexican Sunflower $34.34 Both simple and nostalgic these bird feeders are a blast from the past. Each Vintage Bird Feeder is hand painted with our signature floral designs. depth: 10.5. width: 6.7. length: 6.7

Bird Brain Inc Bird Brain Inc Sunflower Hummer Feeder 10104033 $9.16 Sunflower hummer feeder Hand painted ceramic hummingbird feeder features a stopper like top with a rubber seal that lifts off for easy filling and cleaning No feeding flowers; hummers feed through opening in the center of the hand painted sun flower Holds 8 oz. of nectar Dimensions: 3.5? H. x 2.4? D. Color: Vibrant blue with red sunflowers and green leaves Coordinates with Mexican Sunflower ceramic feeder model No. 10204210 Brand #: Bird Brain Inc 10104033 UPC: 039138030528 Keywords: hummingbird feeder ceramic nectar bird

Growing Mexican Sunflowers

Everyone knows intuitively what a "normal" sunflower looks like. Tall and bright, they take on an almost majestic appearance by the time they've grown to full height. Mexican sunflowers are striking in the way they look, but many passersby would be surprised to discover that the plants are actually part of the sunflower line. They look different, they're shorter, but they look no less regal than their taller brethren.

In this article, we'll explore growing Mexican sunflowers (it's scientific name is Tithonia rotundifolia). I'll describe some of the traits that are exclusive to the breed as well as how to plant and care for them to encourage the best crop.

Their Appearance

They typically grow to a full height of only 5 feet. Some varieties have been known to reach 8 feet while others only reach 2 or 3. In most cases, the plant is relatively short when compared to a regular sunflower at twice the height. One of the reasons why people don't realize that they're part of the same breed is because they look completely different. Tithonia have heads that are only a few inches in diameter and they boast a deep orange-red color. Through cross-breeding, some varieties have been grown with yellow heads, though most growers prefer the distinctly sharp orange or vibrant red.

The leaves of the Mexican sunflower are usually coarse and reach a length between 6 and 8 inches. They're green, shaped like a spade, and have a noticeable fuzz across their surface.

Traits Of The Breed

Tithonia love the sun and grow quickly under full exposure. They have 2 flowering seasons: one in the summer (from July to the middle of September) and one during the fall (from October through the end of November). When grown to harvest, they'll only yield approximately 50 seeds, a tiny amount compared to the several hundred seeds produced by a regular sunflower. Most gardeners who grow them do so for their appearance rather than their seed yield.

How To Plant Them

Most varieties of Tithonia are extremely easy to grow as long as they have direct, plentiful access to sunlight. They'll develop well in fertile soil that has been drained properly, but can also thrive in sites that haven't been drained or offer less fertility. Like regular sunflowers, they're resilient. That said, they should be planted after the last trace of frost has disappeared; while the plant can withstand arid or dry climates well, it can't tolerate frost.

Also, it's important to note that Tithonia are soil scavengers. Because they tend to scavenge the nutrients within the soil and grow outward, they should be planted approximately 3 feet apart. That will prevent them from cannibalizing the site.

How To Care For Them

Mexican sunflowers need plenty of water when they're grown in extremely dry climates. However, take care not to drown them. They absorb water well and don't need a constant supply. When you first plant them, you should water them daily. After a week, watering them every other day is sufficient. Also, consider using a compost or fertilizer mix, especially if the site in which they're planted isn't particularly fertile.

You may also want to mulch the soil around each plant and stake them once they've reached nearly a foot in height.

A Dazzling Display

Because this variety has such a vibrant color, it makes an ideal ornamental plant. When used within an outside garden, only a few are necessary to have a noticeable impact. When used in a bouquet of flowers, 1 or 2 heads in the middle can have an unparalleled intensity. Inside or out, in gardens or bouquets, Tithonia captures attention and makes an unforgettable impression.

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Gardening Tips : How to Grow Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia Rotundifolia)