Dig in and start growing!
It's time for a community-wide seed growing and seed saving adventure! Yes, One Seed Pima County is kicking off! This year's selected seed is the Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia).
How to participate:
- Check out Mexican Flower seeds with your library card.
- Plant them in the ground or in a container.
- Enjoy watching your Mexican Sunflower grow and the happy insects that visit.
- Harvest and save some seeds for yourself and some for the library
- Share saved seeds with the library where they will join the donations of other gardeners.
- Help ensure we have seeds to plant for seasons to come!
How to plant and harvest Mexican Sunflower
As an annual, the Mexican Sunflower completes its life cycle in one growing season. It has a bushy, upright growth habit with robust stems. It reaches a height of 4-6 feet and a spread of 2-3 feet. This plant delivers in both adding beauty to the garden and benefiting wildlife!
Planting
Direct seed in a full sun location in late winter/early spring for summer and fall flowers. Be prepared to stake your Tithonia as they can get floppy and fall over.
Growing
The Mexican Sunflower grows best in poorer soils and requires full sun (at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight); it will also tolerate moderate drought conditions.
Seed Saving
Involves letting the prickly seed heads dry and turn brown on the plant, cutting them off, wearing gloves to rub them apart, and then thoroughly drying and storing the dark, firm seeds in cool, dark, dry paper envelopes or bags for next season's planting.
Learn more
Visit seedsavers.org/learn/seed-saving
Get involved
Tag and share photos of your Mexican Sunflower adventures on social media. Please tag us @PimaSeedLibrary using the hashtags #OneSeedPimaCountyMexicanSunflower, #PCPLSeedLibrary, #CommunitySupportedSeeds.
Find us
Don't forget to visit the Library's event calendar to find Seed Library programs happening near you!
Did you know?
Want to impress your friends with some facts about Mexican Flower? Here you go!
- According to Maundu P. and Bo Tengnas. (2005), studies have shown that in America it has been used for treatment of abscesses, infections, snake bites, malaria, and diabetes.
- In Africa, infusion used for constipation, indigestion, sore throat.
- In Venezuela, used for treatment of abscess.
- In Mexico it is used to treat malaria, hematomas, and muscular pain.
- Fodder: it is a suitable species for fodder for cows and goats. Tithonia has a high nutrition value
