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Stunning sunflower
TITHONIA ROTUNDIFOLIA (T. speciosa), a native of Mexico, is a tall plant bearing orange-red zinnia-like flowers. It is a member of the Asteraceae (Compasitae) family. It is a sun-loving plant and derives its name from Titonus, the favourite lover of Aurora, goddess of dawn. The sun-like shape of the flowers and the orange-red colour of the radiating petals also helped it acquire the name Mexican sunflower.
Tithonia speciosa is a hardy and woody perennial, but gardeners often grow it is an annual. The plant has alternate, ovate, and toothed leaves. Some of them are three-lobed.
When the plant becomes old, some of the lower leaves wither and they should then be removed to make the plant look tidy.
Removing the dried flowers will induce the plant to produce more.
Mexican sunflower can be easily raised from seeds, which can be sown in seed pans. Later, seedlings should be transferred to beds. New varieties like Sundance and Torch are available now. They are shorter, robust and bushy.
Tithonia speciosa can survive in poor soil and it does well in a lightly manured soil. It flowers in three months after planting. Because of the long stalks, the flowers are excellent for cutting. The plant, being hardy, has the tendency to spread all by itself in moist areas.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
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