Another Flower Mystery

GoDawgs · June 19, 2020

Yesterday I happened to notice that of the six Tithonia Mexican sunflowers I planted, one is definitely different. Five have a rather open habit with orange flowers. The sixth one (on the left) is pretty vertical and more dense with leaves that are a lot larger.

Some internet sleuthing turned up some help in identification. There are two genera of Tithonia. What is usually sold as Mexican Sunflower or Torch Flower is Tithonia rotundifolia that has orange flowers and can get 4-6’ tall.

However, Tithonia diversifolia has a woody stem, yellow flowers and can get 6-9’ tall! That might be what the sixth plant is:

What I found most interesting is that the diversifolia can be used as a green fertilizer either by mulching with it or burying it because it has the ability to make fertilizer in the soil. Used as a fertilizer, this Tithonia’s NPK is 1.76% N, 0.82% P and 3.92% K.

If those flower buds open to yellow flowers, the mystery might be solved.

Tracydr · June 19, 2020

David the Good swears by them for green manure chop and drop in his tropical environment.

GoDawgs · June 20, 2020

Thanks for that input, Tracy. If it's diversifolia I'm going to save the seed and see if I can grow a bed next spring just to have enough to play with the mulching/fertilizing aspect of it.

GoDawgs · June 25, 2020

The mystery Tithonia has bloomed and phooey...it's the same orange as the others, not yellow. And it's also starting to stretch and open up into a habit like the other ones, not so dense. It is taller than the rest but every family has one of those. It just looked so darned different. At least it was something exciting to watch even just for a little bit.

greenthumbomaha · June 26, 2020

Hi GoDawgs. In my climate Tithonia is supposed to be a late season bloomer so I have a few months before I see flowers. I started a 6 pack from seed obtained from my local seed library. Mine is really tiny and hasn't grown since I planted it, but the remaining tiny plant in the 6 pack is growing strong. I think it is the torch variety. Were yours slow to take off when you planted them?

-Lisa

GoDawgs · June 30, 2020

[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;757546]Mine is really tiny and hasn't grown since I planted it, but the remaining tiny plant in the 6 pack is growing strong. I think it is the torch variety. Were yours slow to take off when you planted them? [QUOTE]

To be honest, I can't remember as I was growing a bunch of flowers and veggies all at the same time. Mine are torch, though. I think I'll save seed from that big 'un!

June 19, 2020	#1
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Another Flower Mystery Yesterday I happened to notice that of the six Tithonia Mexican sunflowers I planted, one is definitely different. Five have a rather open habit with orange flowers. The sixth one (on the left) is pretty vertical and more dense with leaves that are a lot larger. Some internet sleuthing turned up some help in identification. There are two genera of Tithonia. What is usually sold as Mexican Sunflower or Torch Flower is Tithonia rotundifolia that has orange flowers and can get 4-6’ tall. However, Tithonia diversifolia has a woody stem, yellow flowers and can get 6-9’ tall! That might be what the sixth plant is: What I found most interesting is that the diversifolia can be used as a green fertilizer either by mulching with it or burying it because it has the ability to make fertilizer in the soil. Used as a fertilizer, this Tithonia’s NPK is 1.76% N, 0.82% P and 3.92% K. If those flower buds open to yellow flowers, the mystery might be solved.

June 25, 2020	#4
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Flower Mystery Solved The mystery Tithonia has bloomed and phooey...it's the same orange as the others, not yellow. And it's also starting to stretch and open up into a habit like the other ones, not so dense. It is taller than the rest but every family has one of those. It just looked so darned different. At least it was something exciting to watch even just for a little bit.

June 19, 2020	#2
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	David the Good swears by them for green manure chop and drop in his tropical environment.

June 20, 2020	#3
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Thanks for that input, Tracy. If it's diversifolia I'm going to save the seed and see if I can grow a bed next spring just to have enough to play with the mulching/fertilizing aspect of it.

June 26, 2020	#5
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Hi GoDawgs. In my climate Tithonia is supposed to be a late season bloomer so I have a few months before I see flowers. I started a 6 pack from seed obtained from my local seed library. Mine is really tiny and hasn't grown since I planted it, but the remaining tiny plant in the 6 pack is growing strong. I think it is the torch variety. Were yours slow to take off when you planted them? -Lisa

June 30, 2020	#6
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;757546]Mine is really tiny and hasn't grown since I planted it, but the remaining tiny plant in the 6 pack is growing strong. I think it is the torch variety. Were yours slow to take off when you planted them? [QUOTE] To be honest, I can't remember as I was growing a bunch of flowers and veggies all at the same time. Mine are torch, though. I think I'll save seed from that big 'un!