Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Tithonia Goldfinger
Tithonia Goldfinger
Couldn't load pickup availability
Share
Tithonia 'Goldfinger' Seeds
(Mexican Sunflower)
If you want a plant that glows with the intensity of a setting sun, this is it. Tithonia 'Goldfinger' is a refined, compact selection of the giant Mexican Sunflower, producing masses of velvety, deep orange-red flowers with a golden centre. The petals feel like soft suede, and the hollow stems are covered in a tactile downy fuzz.
This is a plant with serious presence. It grows rapidly to form a substantial, shrub-like mound of lush green foliage topped with hundreds of vibrant blooms. It is the absolute star of the "Hot Border," bringing an exotic, tropical heat to the garden from late summer right through to the first frost.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Tithonia is a frost-tender Half-Hardy Annual.
It originates from Mexico and Central America, so it loves heat and hates the cold.
The Strategy: Treat it like a Tomato or a Zinnia. Sow it indoors in warmth and do not plant it out until June when the soil is properly warm. If you plant it too early in cold soil, it will turn yellow and sulk.
Top Tip: This plant grows fast! It creates a "hedge" effect in just one season, making it perfect for screening unsightly areas or creating temporary garden rooms.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Tithonia is easy to germinate but requires patience before planting out.
Germination:
Sow indoors from March to May. Sow seeds on the surface of good compost and cover lightly with vermiculite (they need light to germinate). Keep very warm (20-25°C). Germination takes 7-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun and a sheltered spot. They thrive in rich, well-drained soil. Because the leaves are large and lush, they need plenty of nutrients to keep growing, so digging in manure before planting helps immensely.
Care While Growing:
Support is essential. Tithonia stems are hollow and brittle. Despite looking like a sturdy shrub, a strong wind can snap branches off easily. Stake the plants or grow them in a block so they support each other. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage non-stop blooming.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Tithonia rotundifolia |
| Common Name | Mexican Sunflower 'Goldfinger' |
| Hardiness | H2 (Half-Hardy - needs frost protection) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 90cm - 120cm (Tall/Shrubby) |
| Spread | ↔️ 60cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 60cm apart |
| Great for | 🦋 The Ultimate Pollinator 🔥 Hot Colour Schemes ✂️ Cut Flowers 🌵 Exotic Gardens |
| Seed Count | Approx. 20 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Tithonia loves the heat. Pair it with other vibrant, late-summer sun worshippers:
- 🍂 Rudbeckia 'Autumn Forest': Create a "Fire & Earth" border. The russet, bronze, and gold tones of the Rudbeckia blend seamlessly with the fiery orange of the Tithonia, creating a warm, glowing display in autumn.
- 🎨 Zinnia 'Lilliput Mix': The heat-seeking duo. Both Tithonia and Zinnias originate from Mexico and thrive in the same conditions. The small, pom-pom heads of the Zinnia provide a shape contrast to the large daisies of the Tithonia.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Plant out only when warm. Flowers late summer to frost.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Tithonia is often cited as the number one flower for butterflies in UK gardens. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) for its reliability and exceptional performance.
