Sunflower tree

Tithonia diversifolia
Family: Asteraceae / Compositae
Sunflower tree, tree marigold

I love this plant, fast growing, easy to propagate & beautiful flowers. But, like my angel trumpet tree, can't go long without water before wilting. Never thought about using flowers as cut flowers in a vase, but they do great as long as you recut ends every other day & putting in clean water.
Like the trumpet tree, just cut stalks, stick & dirt, keep watered & they grow. The last time I pruned this monster (now 10 ft. tall) I had 5 1gal. pots full of stalks to give away. It looks like a stick bush after you prune it, but gets leafy again in under 2 weeks.

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Wow, that is really pretty. Is it hardy? Would it grow in zone 6-7?

Cheers!
BD

I am not sure that they would survive your winters if they were severe but if you could get some cuttings they grow like weeds. These are one of my favorite subjects for my mosaics and I am in the process of doing a back splash in my kitchen with a big blossom.
C

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Lovely photo, Molly!

Post pics of your mosaics, too!

Julie

Val, how about a pic of the whole tree?

LOL, what a time to ask, I just cut it way back last week & it's nothing but a bunch of bare stems But I do have a pic from May when it was about 7-8 ft. tall. I'll post a pic next time it's in its full glory again.

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