When I received this plant, from a friend in June, it was in a 6 inch pot. I had never heard of this Mexican Sunflower Tree before. I was told it would make large Sunflower looking flowers with a Vanilla - Honey scent in the fall through winter. I was very excited - this is how my experience has unflolded with this new to me plant.
On August 12, 2008 this is how my Mexican Sunflower looked.
On August 13, 2008 it was attacked by bad weather.
One of my girls and myself broke all of the small limbs off the one big limb and stuck them in the ground.
On August 17, 2008 I was beginning to have doubts that it would make it.
On Oct. 6, 2008 it was looking a lot better.
Today, Oct. 9, 2008 I found some buds. I'm very curious to see if the bloom looks like the first photo on this post that I grabbed from the internet.
and some lizards.
Doesn't it look much better in just two months?
Click on this last photo, he was giving me the eye for sure!
Common Name: Mexican SunflowerBotanical Name: Tithonia diversifolia
Family: Asteraceae
Plant Type: Large, Perennial, Rangy Shrub
Origin: Mexico and Central America
Zones: 8 - 11
Height and Width: To 12' or More
Rate of Growth: Fast
Salt Tolerance: Medium
Soil: Average, Well Drained
Form: Shrub
Leaves: Palm Shaped medium green to 6" wide
Flowers: Yellow, Daisy like, smell of honey, loved by bees and butterflies
Fruits: Gray, Flattened, Dry, One-Seeded Fruit Hidden by Papery, Brown Tipped
Bracts
Pests or Diseases: Young foliage attacked by snails and slugs (I haven't seen this yet)
Uses: Screening
Bad Habits: Foliage damaged by frost, recovers quickly
Please let me know if you have any info or have heard of this plant before. I can barely wait until I can post it in full bloom.
