Mexican Sunflower Seeds – Orange Tithonia rotundifolia

Bring bold orange color and lively pollinator activity to your summer garden with Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). This warm-season annual produces vivid, daisy-like flowers that attract bees and butterflies, making it a colorful choice for sunny borders, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens.

Plant a group where you can watch butterflies visit the blooms, then cut a few stems to bring that bright summer color indoors.

Plant highlights

• Botanical name: Tithonia rotundifolia
• Common name: Mexican Sunflower
• Flower color: Orange
• Life cycle: Annual; frost tender
• Light: Full sun
• Bloom season: Summer into fall, depending on planting time and climate
• Garden benefits: Attractive to bees and butterflies; tolerant of heat and some drought once established

Sowing and germination

Direct sow outdoors after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed. Choose loose, well-drained soil in a sunny location. Sow shallowly with a light covering of fine soil rather than burying the seeds deeply.

• Keep the seedbed evenly moist, not waterlogged, until seedlings establish.
• Warm conditions around 70°F support germination, which typically takes approximately 7–14 days.
• Thin seedlings to approximately 24 inches apart to allow room for branching and airflow.
• Use local frost dates and weather conditions to guide planting rather than a fixed calendar date.

Growing and care

Water young plants regularly while they develop roots. Once established, water deeply as needed and allow excess moisture to drain away. Feed sparingly, as excessive fertilizer can encourage foliage at the expense of flowers.

• Choose a sheltered position or provide support if stems become tall or exposed to wind.
• Remove faded flowers to keep the planting tidy and encourage continued flowering.
• Allow enough space for mature plants; height and spread vary with growing conditions and seed strain.

Choose your seed quantity

Available options: 10 seeds, 25 seeds, ¼ oz, 1 oz, or ¼ lb. Weight-based packs are sold by weight, not an exact seed count. This listing is for planting seeds, not live plants.

Species note: Mexican Sunflower is Tithonia rotundifolia, not common sunflower (Helianthus annuus).