Hello Mid-Ohio Valley gardeners and farmers!

I am thankful we received some much-needed rain here in the valley. It is hard to believe Memorial Day is this Monday. A big thank you to all our veterans and active military service men and women keeping us safe and free.

Each week I want to share a little American history as part of the upcoming America 250 celebration. On May 10, 1775, the United Colonies captured Fort Ticonderoga, at the confluence of Lake Champlain and Lake George in northeastern New York.

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, together with Benedict Arnold, surprised and overtook a small British garrison at the fort. It was the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War. In addition, they acquired valuable artillery for the Continental Army.

This week I want to talk about a flower which makes a great addition to the pollinator garden, the Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). It is a vigorous, drought-tolerant, warm season annual that is easy to grow. Despite their common name, Mexican sunflowers are not true sunflowers (Helianthus) but are in the daisy family (Asteraceae).

Tithonia includes 10 to 15 species of bushy annuals, perennials and shrubs native to Mexico and Central America. The plants have large, brightly colored, daisy-like flowers on thick stems. Members of the daisy family are great for butterflies because their large blooms make excellent perches and nectar sources.

Mexican sunflower varieties for the garden are large, coarse-textured annuals capable of reaching 6 feet tall with a spread of half that. They are heat-loving plants that grow best in warm, sunny weather.

Deadheading plants will help prolong blooming. If plants are allowed to produce seeds, they may self-seed. They produce stout, branched stems covered by broad, spade-shaped leaves growing 6 to 8 inches long.

The dark green leaves are ovate to deltoid (triangular) in shape with serrate to crenate margins. The coarse leaves are usually entire but occasionally will be three lobed. The foliage and stems are covered with a soft downy fuzz, and the underside of the leaves are hairy.

Mexican sunflowers typically begin blooming in July and will continue until a frost. Plants produce showy 3-inch flowers with red-orange ray flowers and yellow disc flowers. There are also cultivars that have yellow ray flowers. During their peak, plants may be covered with dozens of gorgeous blooms. Many blooms remain open and attractive for 10 days or more, making it an effective cut flower.

Mexican sunflower is best situated at the back of beds and borders to form a backdrop for shorter plants because of its tall stature, rangy habit and coarse texture. It can also be used as a seasonal screen. It can be planted in mixed or annual borders with zinnia, coreopsis and other bright-colored flowers or mixed with plants with dark-colored foliage.

Mexican sunflower grows best in full sun in poor to average, well-drained soil. They will tolerate poor soil, so they may be a plant to try if you have an area where plants struggle. It has few pest problems and is usually avoided by deer.

Mexican sunflower can easily be planted directly into the garden after the last spring frost date or started indoors six to eight weeks before the average last spring frost date for earlier blooms. Sow seeds very shallow for germination.

Avoid planting it in rich soil or heavy fertilization, which promotes excess foliage and weak stems. You can pinch back plants to encourage bushier growth. Sturdier plants are less likely to fall over but plants often need to be staked to remain upright.

“Torch” is the most popular of the larger selections. “Fiesta del Sol” is a dwarf form growing about 30 inches tall that was an All-American Annual winner in 2000 and is easier to use in smaller gardens. “Goldfinger” is a shorter cultivar, growing 2.5-3 feet tall with yellow-orange ray flowers.

Mexican sunflower is attractive to various pollinators including bees, butterflies, flies and hummingbirds that frequently visit their flowers. The beautiful blooms paired with its ability to thrive in hot and dry environments with minimal watering makes the Mexican sunflower a great choice for the backyard garden.

Contact me at the Wood County WVU Extension Office 304-424-1960 or e-mail me at jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu with questions. Good Luck and until next time, Happy Gardening!