This morning when I walked the garden, something seemed missing in one bed. Then I noticed that one of the two surviving Tithonias had collapsed over night! Wow. It had some yellow leaves at the very bottom yesterday that had been there a few days but they always get some of that every year. On the whole, last night the plant looked OK. Wow. I've never had one do that before.



I need to dig that out this evening and see what the roots look like. We had that 3" rain a couple days ago. Maybe it rotted but then the other should have been affected too. They do suck up a lot of water every day. Go figure.

I have had them break off in the Wind and look like that

They are so tall and top heavy that they fall over and break sometimes. I now give each one a couple of stakes to help support them. They sure are pretty and fun to grow.

I checked it out last evening while watering the garden and yep, it had broken off. First time it ever happened.

@MissS , thanks for the suggestion about stakes. I didn't know these plants could do that so next year I'll put about three stakes around the plant and let it grow around them.

It fell victim to oscillation.
It's where the wind makes it go in a somewhat circle and snaps off.
I stake stops it.

This happened to my tithonia all of the time as they got large so 2 years ago I found a shorter variety that did better. I did not grow it this year and I no longer have the seed packet to tell you the variety name but it was shorter than the normal one.

The butterflies and others really go for it. Yep... stakes next year.

I have to stake mine too, or I'll lose one or two this way. Tithonia is my favorite plant after tomatoes. I plant many of them and they always bring loads of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It's how I make my bees so fat!

The Fiesta del Sol is the shortest one. I think I have grown them all at some point. Especially love the yellow ones like Yellow Torch. Seed Savers used to carry a different yellow one but have to check. Always stake! Sorry for your loss!

I didn't grow any this year but will next year. @Gardadore , thanks for the varietal suggestion.