Description
AAS WINNER DETAILS
Winner Type: National
Class: Tithonia
Variety Name: Fiesta Del Sol
Genus: Tithonia
Species: rotundifolia
Year: 2000
Common Name: Mexican sunflower
Type: Flowers from Seed
Breeder: Benary Seed
Close Market Comparison: Goldfinger and Torch
PLANT NEEDS
Duration Type: Annual
Light Needs: Full sun
Water Needs: Normal
Dead Heading Recommended: No
Staking Required: No
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS
Foliage Color: Green
Plant Habit: Bushy, upright
Plant Height: 24-36 inches
Bloom Time: Summer
Bloom Color: Orange
Bloom Color Pattern: Solid
Bloom Size: 2.5 inches
IN THE GARDEN
Container: Yes
Pollinator Friendly: Butterflies, hummingbirds
Weather Tolerance: Heat
Garden Spacing: 12-24 inches
Medium Height Divider: Yes
Tall Background: Yes
Cut Flower: Yes
AAS Winners
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.”