Mexican Sunflowers for summer and fall color

Shrubs and perennials encompass the backbone of my garden, but a few annuals ensure that there is something in bloom throughout the entire season. Tithonia, Mexican Sunflower, is a gorgeous annual for the back of the border. It starts blooming mid-summer and flowers all the way to frost.

Tithonia is great for a pollinator garden.

Tithonia (pronounced tie-THO-nee-ah) can be started indoors to get a jump on the season, but is easily grown from seed. Baby plants resent root disturbance; use peat pots to reduce transplant shock. When peat pots are planted into the flower bed, be sure that no part of the pot extends above soil level since any portion above ground will wick moisture away from the roots and into the air. Tear off a strip around the top if needed. Plant in full sun. These Mexico natives love the heat and are drought-tolerant. Tithonia does best in well-drained, infertile soil. Rich soil will produce floppy, weak plants with few flowers.

Tithonias grow very rapidly, reaching heights of 3 to 6 feet, with a width of half that. I received my first 2022 seed catalog this week, and was delighted to see a new, dwarf form. ‘Fiesta del Sol’ is supposed to top out at two and a-half feet, which will make it easier to incorporate into flower beds. Most cultivars have flowers with deep, rich orange petals around a yellow center. Red or gold-flowered varieties are available, too. Cut flowers will last a long time in the vase if care is taken to avoid crushing the stems. The fuzzy stems are hollow, which means they can break if sited in an especially windy area. The ease of culture, the bright flowers, and the fuzzy stems mean this is a great choice for a child’s first garden. As a bonus, the flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and a host of pollinator insects. They are not plagued by diseases. Deer rarely dine on them.

Tithonia used as an annual hedge, along with other fall-blooming flowers.

Tithonia seeds are large enough for children to handle easily.

Clivia Houseplant: Winter Flowers

The trumpet-shaped blooms of Clivia offer a welcome bright spot during gray mid-winter. Clivia miniata (pronounced KLIV-ee-ah min-ee-AY-tah) is cold hardy only in zones 9 and warmer, which means most gardeners enjoy it as a houseplant.

Clivia flowers may be orange or yellow (less common, more expensive). My first plant came as a gift from fellow Master Gardener, Dr. Jim Weeks. He assured me that it would survive low light levels, being root bound, occasional drought, and general neglect. Check, check and check. I placed it in a north-facing window, and have been rewarded with orange flowers every year since. Plants produce single stems topped with clusters of up to twenty buds. These open over days or weeks. My record has been blooms over 23 days. Not bad for a victim of my houseplant skills! The flowers result in seeds, but the most reliable means of propagation is separation and re-potting of the offsets produced by a mature plant. It may take a year or two for these offsets to bloom. Plants bloom best when moderately root bound.

Treat plants to a lukewarm shower occasionally to remove dust from the broad strap-like leaves that resemble Amaryllis, to which it is akin. Otherwise, avoid overwatering. Allow plants to dry out slightly between waterings, and never allow them to stand in water. Oldest leaves may yellow. This is normal. Trim these off with scissors. Give plants a rest period of 4-6 weeks with reduced water and night temperatures of 50 degrees to induce bud set. Use a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer at half-strength every two weeks once buds are visible. Plants prefer bright, filtered light but no direct sun. A north-facing window is ideal.

All parts of Clivia are toxic to pets and people.

A flowering Clivia miniata. Note that this specimen is in a nursery pot within a decorative cache pot. I remove the black plastic pot before giving the plant a thorough soaking, and allow it to drain before returning it to the ceramic container.

This specimen is happy in a north-facing window, where it receives bright light but no direct sun.

There is root bound, and then there is Criminal Plant Neglect. This falls into the latter category.. She got a root trim and fresh soil.