This Tithonia got an All-America award for the year 2000. The grower reports that plants do not exceed 3 feet but ours got quite a bit taller than that. What struck us most about Fiesta Del Sol was that it bloomed early, abundantly, and then continued to bloom throughout the summer. The 3-inch daisy-like orange flowers are very attractive in bouquets. Bees and butterflies love them too! 15 seeds PLANTING Tithonia rotundifolia Annual Germination: 7-14 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-80ºF Seed Planting Depth: Sow on the surface, seeds need light to germinate Starting Indoors: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Provide 70-80ºF soil temperatures until germination. Transplant 12-24” apart after the last frost. Sowing Outdoors: Direct sow outdoors after the last frost, only in areas with long growing seasons Growth Habit: Upright, branching Height and Width: 3-5’ x 2-3’ Spacing: 12-24” apart Light Needs: Full sun Soil Needs: Average to poor, dry, well-drained Approximate days to flower from seed: Blooms in 85-90 days Uses: Cut flowers, beds and back of borders, cottage gardens, containers and planters, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, drought tolerant, deer resistant Care: Deadhead to encourage more flower production. Over-fertilizing will produce plants with more foliage than flowers. Tall plants can benefit from staking.
