By Kate Torpie, Garden Guides Contributor
About Mexican Sunflower
The Mexican Sunflower has a big, beautiful bloom in a caliente
orange. Their centers are bushy, like a dahlia or daisy. This
annual can grow about 4 to 6 feet, and it spreads about half as
many feet. The flowers themselves (and there are lots of them) are
about 3 inches wide, and its leaves are covered in a soft down.
This plant needs a lot of room.
Site Preparation
Pick a spot with lots of bright sun and good drainage. You may also
wish to choose a spot where they won't grow into and cover other
flowers: a border around the yard, for example. The Mexican
Sunflower is heat and drought resistant, but the flowers will look
perkier if you water regularly. About 1 or 2 weeks before planting,
till the soil and mix in a good amount of compost.
Planting
Ready for the easiest plant in the world to sow? Buy seeds. After
the last frost, drop them on the area that you have prepared. Kick
a bit of dirt over them, but not too much since these seeds like
sun. And, as desert-acclimated plants, they have shallow roots. Now
you're done. By mid-June, you'll start having flowers all
summer.
Care
Not much to do here. As the plants grow taller, they may outgrow
themselves and fall over. Their stems are hollow, making it
difficult to stake them without breaking. However, you can
certainly give it a shot. Alternatively, you can trim down the
plants as they grow higher. Deadheading the blooms will allow the
plant to support more blossoms. The plant thrives in hot, dry
conditions. Water it now and then, but be very careful not to
overwater. Be on the lookout for aphids. You may need to purchase a
product to spray on the plant if you find that aphids have "moved
into" your Mexican Sunflowers.
Choosing a Variety
All Mexican Sunflowers bloom in shades of red-yellow, so color
variation isn't a real issue when choosing a variety. Size may be,
though. Goldfinger and Sundance only average about 3 feet. They're
perfect for smaller gardens.
Special Features
These beauties attract butterflies in droves. If you want to go for
a real nature preserve feeling, plant some Butterfly Bush nearby
(for the larva to feed on). Get ready for monarchs galore!
