My Tithonia just started blooming a couple of days ago. About how long do these plants bloom? I was hoping that my little hummer would go to the plant but instead he just flew right on by it. Isn't this plant suppose to attract hummers?

Marilyn
FL zone 9

Hello Marilyn,

Give it some time...I promise you that you will have lots of activity soon... As the bloom #'s increase, so does the activity. You'll just have to trust me
The activity will start to develop about mid-July and steadily increases through to October...and doesn't end til the first frost in the fall!
Check out this thread I just posted a pic and video in...
http://tinyurl.com/lqaevg



Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Thanks Susan. Since this is not usually the time of year we have hummers I hope my little one comes back. I noticed this morning that my Tithonia has a lot more blooms on it. Maybe that will encourage the hummers return. My firebush is also in full bloom. What suprises me is that he only flies in for about a minute and then is off. Don't know if he's not getting enough nectar from the plants or just very nervous. I did also put out a feeder hoping he might use that.



Marilyn
FL zone 9

Here's a photo one of our members posted a while back. I couldn't find the thread, but it turned up when I google image searched tithonia and hummingbird together.

http://www.pbase.com/budohio/image/83685904

They use zinnias in my garden, which are fairly similar flowers to Tithonia. I'm growing Tithonia this year for the first time, but it's going to be a long time before they're blooming. They're only a few inches tall (I got a late start with them).

I am looking forward to seening mine bloom. They are probably much bigger than Krisitin's but they don't look like they are anywhere close to their first blooms.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I have not seen the HB's use the tithonia in our yard. So far they use the Tree tobacco, Firebush & salvia gregii's. No activity on the feeders either, but I have limited time to watch.

Jana
Montverde,Florida
USDA zone 9

My Mexican Sunflower is getting some good action this morning, the hummer even perches on the branches, this is a plant surrounded by subrotunda, exserta, Bee Balm and Chilean Glory Vines so it must be good, each flower is getting a good working over.

Its a seven foot tall plant in a small pot so I think I better find a place to put it in the ground soon.