Orange October: Mexican Sunflower

A recent addition to the Flight Encounter exhibit is Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia), an annual member of the Aster family native to Mexico and Central America. Though not a true “sunflower”, it’s closely related, and is a fantastic nectar plant for butterflies.

Mexican Sunflower is a tall, gangly plant, best planted at the back of the garden or in a less formal wildflower bed. The leaves are very large, as much as 5 inches by 10 inches, and the plants can easily grow to 7 or 8 feet in height. The flowers have a tendency to droop and sometimes break off because of the way the stem is constructed. Just below the flower head is the “peduncle”, which is hollow (the technical term is “fistulose”). This is easily bent or broken in high winds or rain, so these plants can sometimes look a little messy.

Regardless of their garden habit, these are great plants in a butterfly garden. They bloom happily starting in spring, and will often reseed themselves for a second flush of blooms in early fall. The most common cultivar, shown here, is ‘Torch”, and it is generally pretty easy to find in nurseries. Give it full sun and perhaps a little extra water to avoid drooping leaves on the hottest of summer days, and watch the butterflies arrive in droves!