Flower
Red Sunflower
Tithonia rotundifoliaAlso known as Mexican Sunflower, Clavel de Muerto, Fiery Sunflower
Red sunflowers feature fiery orange-red flower heads with velvety petals surrounding a bright yellow central disk. Native to Central America and Mexico, this fast-growing annual thrives in full sun and produces coarse, velvety foliage on thick hollow stems. The abundant nectar-rich blooms serve as a vital energy station for migrating monarch butterflies, swallowtails, and native bees throughout late summer.
AnnualFloweringPollinator Magnet
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Caterpillars
ThreatsMinimal threats; highly adaptable and widely cultivated
HabitatsSeasonally dry tropical forests, fields, roadsides, and gardens
Life span1 year (annual)
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusTithonia
- SpeciesTithonia rotundifolia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Gardening: Plant seeds in warm, well-drained soil with full sunlight exposure.
- Wildlife Viewing: Look for monarch butterflies visiting the orange flower heads on sunny afternoons.
- Plant Care: Avoid overly rich soil or heavy fertilizers, which can cause tall stems to flop over.
Pollinator Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Damo O · cc0
Family Member Dr Photographer / PUBLIC DOMAIN · public domain
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