Tithonia rotundifolia  Mexican Sunflower
		Plant Type: Annual Uses: Back ground, border Habit: Upright Light: Full Sun Flower Color: Orange Blooms:  Fall Width: 30" " Height: 72". Fertility: Low Soil: Well-drained
Tall, bushy plants from the daisy family, they resemble small sunflowers, but have a distinctively clublike stem swelling to the flower base. Brilliant yellow, orange or red rays surround the disk florets. A deliciously soft velvet covers new growth, becoming felt-like on mature leaves. Butterflies love the nectar, especially in fall. Good as a screen or background plant, their drought-tolerance serves them well in desert gardens. Excellent cut flowers.  Give them plenty of space, warmth and sun, and well-drained, low-fertility soil. If soil's too rich, they grow more foliage and fewer flowers. Water in dry spells. Stake to prevent wind or storm damage. Deadhead promptly. .