Tithonia
Tithonia, the Mexican sunflower, produces vivid orange-scarlet daisy blooms on tall, branching stems that bring tropical heat to late-summer designs. Florists love its saturated colour and generous stem length for larger, garden-style and installation work. Each velvety flower has a neat central disc and slightly reflexed rays, glowing like a small sun. Its hollow stems need careful handling and plenty of water, but the payoff is one of the most intense oranges in the seasonal palette.
| Family | Asteraceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Mexico and Central America |
| Peak season | August, September |
| Availability | July, August, September, October |
| Stem length | 60–120 cm |
| Vase life | 5–7 days |
| Colors | orange, red, yellow |
| Price tier | mid |
Handle gently: the stems are hollow and swell just below the flower, so cut them at an angle and support the heads while conditioning. Strip the large lower leaves and give a long, deep drink in cool water before arranging. Sear or recut stem ends and keep vases full, as tithonia wilts quickly if it runs short of water.
- •Handle the brittle hollow stems carefully
- •Give a long, deep drink before use
- •Strip large lower leaves
- •Keep vases topped up at all times
- •Recut stems if they start to droop
