2000 AAS Flower Winner
Tithonia Fiesta Del Sol
The first dwarf Mexican sunflower, Fiesta Del Sol thrives on summer heat and humidity, attaining a mature height of 2-3 feet. The single, orange daisy flowers are 2-3 inches across, excellent cut flowers and may attract butterflies. There is an abundance of daisy flowers so that you can cut many for informal bouquets and numerous flowers will remain on the plant for the wildlife. Basically, pest-free, not even deer find the hairy leaves of Tithonia rotundifolia worth eating. Easy-to-grow from seed or plants, Fiesta Del Sol is carefree in the garden or in patio containers. You’ll find the best performance in full sun.
Plant Description
Genus:
Tithonia
Species:
rotundifolia
Common Name:
Mexican sunflower
Plant Habit:
Bushy, upright
Plant Height:
24-36 inches
Foliage Color:
Green
Bloom Time:
Summer
Bloom Color:
Orange
Bloom Size:
2.5 inches
Bloom Color Pattern:
Solid
Breeder:
Benary Seed
Close Market Comparison:
Goldfinger and Torch
Planting & Care
Garden Spacing:
12-24 inches
Duration Type:
Annual
Light Needs:
Full sun
Water Needs:
Normal
Weather Tolerance:
Heat
Dead Heading Recommended:
No
Staking Required:
No
Pollinator Friendly:
Butterflies, hummingbirds
Container:
Yes
Medium Height Divider:
Yes
Tall Background:
Yes
Cut Flower:
Yes
Reviews
Bob Schoen –
I planted these last year and they were great. I saved some dry flower seeds and planted them again this spring. Almost all the seeds produced plants. One of the plants is in a large pot, the same one I had last year. Of all the 20 plants I have this year, I have only one bloom. What did I do wrong?
All-America Selections Admin –
I asked the breeder of this AAS Winner if they knew any reasons why this happened with your seeds. Here is the response from Jennifer Calhoun, Marketing Specialist North America for breeder Ernst Benary of America Inc. “It’s hard to know exactly what happened without knowing more about the growing conditions. It could have been colder or shadier than last year. They could have suffered some drought stress, etc. My best guess is that it is a hybrid and just not something you can re-plant from saved seed. As our friend Gregor Mendel taught us, a hybrid only shows the “desirable” cross a small percentage of the time. Long story short, buying them fresh each year should ensure having flowers on each plant. Luckily they are a large enough seed that they can be purchased from packet seed companies like Park and Burpee. I hope this helps.”