An erect, branching annual with rounded, lobed leaves and bright orange to  scarlet flowerheads, that burn brightly from midsummer until the nights begin  to draw in. ‘Torch’ is a great hot border companion for dahlias, achilleas helenium, and is a ‘cut-and-come-again’ variety that benefits from staking. 
                                    
                                        Growing instructions:
                                         For early season colour sow under glass onto  moist well-drained seed compost and cover lightly. Seedlings, which appear  shortly, can be potted up and left to grow for several more weeks, hardening  off before planting out with a 50cm spacing once frosts are passed. 
 Alternatively, sow directly outside once frosts are passed in a well-prepared bed with plenty of incorporated organic matter. Germination can take 7-21 days. Thin to 50cm  spacing and stake if the garden is particularly open or exposed. Deadhead to  encourage branching and longer displays. 
                                     
                                        
                                            Eventual height:
                                            1.5m
                                            Eventual spread:
                                            1m
                                         
                                        
                                        
                                            Rate of growth:
                                            Fast-growing
                                         
                                        
                                            Soil:
                                            Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost