Lousie Martorano's flowers

Mexican sunflower is a beautiful annual which is easy to grow from seed. 

It is native to Mexico and Central America. Mexican sunflowers reach a height of 5-6 feet and they grow quickly but are not invasive.

Because they are tall, they are the perfect backdrop plant for a sunny garden! Their bright orange flowers look lovely behind plants such as zinnias, cosmos, and many others! The flowers measure 2 ½ - 3 inches across.

Growing instructions:
If you want to plant the seeds directly in your garden in the spring, make sure the temperatures remain consistently above 55°F and that risk of frost has passed. Barely cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate. Germination takes 7-14 days. 

This plant is not picky about soil, so you will not need to add special soil amendments! 

You may even want to start seeds early indoors to give them a head start.

 If doing this, start them 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost in your area. When you transplant the seedlings into your garden, space them 12-24 inches apart.