Plants
Mexican sunflower
Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A.Gray
Family: Asteraceae · Genus: Tithonia
tree marigold
Fast-growing perennial shrub; propagated by stem cuttings; high biomass production rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Explicitly cited by Pasini among Accumulation-system species — one of the key fertilizer biomass species in syntropic management.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Placenta II
- Ecological role
- Pioneer
- Primary stratum
- High
- Strata
- High, Medium
- Biomass class
- Fertilizer biomass
Environment
- Light requirement
- Full sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Soil pH range
- 5.5–8
- Preferred soil texture
- Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
- Hardiness zones
- 10–12
Morphology
- Mature height
- 1.5–4 m
- Root system
- Fibrous
- Root depth
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Very fast
Biomes & climate
- Atlantic Forest Naturalized
- Cerrado Naturalized
- Amazon Naturalized
Köppen classes
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
- Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
- Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Mexican sunflower takes the High stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How tall does Mexican sunflower grow?
At maturity, Mexican sunflower reaches 1.5–4 m tall.
What stage and stratum does Mexican sunflower occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, Mexican sunflower belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the high stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Cutting, Seed
Citations
- Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Acumulação , p. 117 (gotsch_stage, biomass_class)
- Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Tithonia diversifolia (height_min_m, height_max_m, ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, drought_tolerance, soil_texture_preference, growth_rate)
- Jama et al. (2000) — Tithonia diversifolia as a green manure for soil fertility improvement in western Kenya: A review, Agroforestry Systems 49:201-221 (root_system, functions, soil_texture_preference)
External references
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