4 O Clocks

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Four O'Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) Really Do Bloom in the Evening.

By Marie Iannotti
Gardening Expert

Mirabilis jalapa - Anna Yu/Photodisc/Getty Images
Anna Yu/Photodisc/Getty Images
Overview:

The cheerful Mirabilis jalapa got the common name “Four O’Clocks” because the flowers open in late afternoon. They remain open until morning and on cloudy days, they may not close at all. Their other common name “Marvel of Peru” is probably because they are native to the topical areas of South America. Mirabilis means wonderful, in Latin. Seeds are poisonous if ingested.

Some reports claim that the leaves are both attractive and lethal to Japanese beetles. I’ve never noticed this, but it might be worth an experiment.

Description:

Four O’Clocks are a bushy tender perennial that can be grown from either a tuber or seeds. In ideal conditions, they can become a nuisance, but gardeners in cold climates can keep the re-seeding under control.

Leaves: Opposite, slightly pointed oval leaves and multi-branching stems.
Flowers: Trumpet-shaped, 5 petal flowers come in pink, red, yellow, white and some bi-colors. Flowers have a slight vanilla scent and open in the late afternoon through the evening.
Latin Name:

Mirabilis jalapa, Synonym: Mirabilis lindheimeri

Common Name:

Four O'Clock, Marvel of Peru
Hardiness Zone:

USDA Hardiness Zones 7B - 11. Grown as a self-seeding annual elsewhere.

Exposure

Full sun . Four O’Clocks can take some shade, but at least 6 hours of sun is needed for best flowering.
Mature Size:

1 - 4' (h) x 1 - 3' (w)

Bloom Period

Mid-Summer to Fall
Suggested Varieties:

Mirabilis jalapa Mix - Old-fashioned self-seeding Four O’Clocks in mixed solid colors.
Mirabilis jalapa 'Alba' - Self-seeding all white Four O’Clocks
'Jingles' cultivars - Smaller plants with two-tone and multi-colored flowers.
Kaleidoscope - A hybrid with multi-colored pink, yellow and white blooms..
Design Suggestions:

Since Four O’Clocks bloom in the evening, plant them where you’re sure to see them and catch a whiff of their fragrance. Pots on decks, along walkways and on the edges of seating areas. They mingle and grow through other plants nicely, making a nice underplanting. Hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular flowers.

Growing Tips:

Soil: Four O’Clocks ares not particular about soil pH, but does best in a soil that is neutral to slightly acidic. They are heavy feeders, though, and a rich, well-draining soil is ideal. They can go dormant in dry conditions.

Planting Four O’Clocks: Where perennial, you can divide and replant Mirabilis tubers pretty much anytime. In colder climates, tubers can be dug and stored in the fall, to be replanted when the soil warms in the spring.

Four O'Clocks can also be grown from seed. The easiest method is to direct seed them outdoors, just before your last frost date. Soaking the seeds over night, before planting, can speed germination, but the seeds germinate almost as quickly as they grow. Chances are god that if you allow your plants to go to seed in the fall, they will self-seed in the garden. Seedlings can be easily pulled and moved to another section

Maintenance:

Where perennial, cut back old Four O’Clock stems in the spring, give them a shot of fertilizer, if your soil is poor and mulch around the plants.
Because Four O’Clocks bloom so profusely, keeping them deadheaded is all but impossible and they don’t really need it to keep blooming. In drier seasons, when the plants can get a little ragged looking, a shearing back by about 1/3 will refresh them. In very dry conditions, the plants can stop blooming entirely, until they are revived with some water.

Pests & Problems:

Rusts, (white rust and brown rust) and some leaf spot diseases can affect the foliage.
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New to me,so had a google,looks like they are a warmer climate plant,that flowers when it's cooler

I've never heard of those.
I'm going to have to pop out for a gurgle now.....be right back!

Ooh! I really like the orange and pink ones!

In a big tub near where I sit in the evening - when they smell most.
I don't like the split colour varieties, I prefer the plain pink, white or yellow

I'd never heard of them either!...there are some really lovely colours aren't there! ...tempted!

Wow , noce responses. They can be propagated from seed, cuttings, and bulb like roots.

@ lottie dolly, muddled, Nicos

yup they are named based the time they bloom, so funny isn't it. perhaps they used to bllom after 5 PM if I remembered correct. and we also have flowers that blooms at middle of the noon.



They are perenials and blooms in the evening then wither by morning. and you see new blooms again by evening during all the blloming period (spring to autumn?) each flower gives a block seed of small pea size. so lots and lots of seeds in one growing season. all we were doing was to pluck of tenderseeds before they meture to avoid lots of self seedlings


@Thelma Sanders

Seems I should have them in back yard to enjoy the evening blooms. but they look so good in front yard.

I've never heard of these flowers before so I googled it. So pretty and some lovely colours.

Oooooo never heard of this.Brb need to google this one..... They are very beautiful . X

Suttons catalogue arrived today and looks like I see different/proper name for these flowers , to recheck the images. post it tomorrow. cheaper to collect from neighbours plants than buying in my opinion though

got mine as well,was looking at them new toms,crimson crush,they are not cheap 3 super plugs for 7.99,no mention of whether f1 or not,plus no mention of seeds,

Here's another thread about them http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...apa_12350.html

they are called 'moon jasmins' at home

It doesn't matter which I prefer: where do YOU prefer?

TS,

I am confused as I had seen them in fron yard all my childhood where I spent most of my day times. may be I would like them in conservatory which I do not have atm

Hi elfida,when you say,where do we prefer to grow them,do you mean where is the best place,here in the UK,sun or shade ext ,here we do not call them yards,but gardens ,maybe that is what is a bit confusing,maybe,take into account of where you WOULD like them to be,then find out what is best for the flowers to live in,ext,sun,shade,or they not bothered