Torch Mexican Sunflower Tithonia Rotundifolia, Blooming Stock Photo

Tithonia rotundifolia, commonly called Mexican sunflower, is native to Mexico and Central America. It is a vigorous annual that typically grows in a single season to 4-6’ tall. Showy sunflowers to 3” across with orange to orange-red rays and orange-yellow disks bloom from mid-summer to fall. Entire or lobed dark green leaves 3-12” long with hairy undersides are generally ovate to triangular in shape with serrate to crenate margins. Good cut flower. Genus named for Tithonus, a young man much loved by Aurora, the dawn-goddess. Specific epithet means with round leaves.