Mirabilis jalapa (4 o'clocks)
(An Old-fashioned Favorite)
These brightly colored, trumpet-shaped, fragrant flowers open in the mid-afternoon, stay open overnight, and close early in the morning. They do this not because of the time of day, but because of the drop in temperatures! They also will remain open on cloudy days.
The bright, fragrant flowers also attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. For best performance, add a general purpose fertilizer once a month to encourage vigorous growth and big, bright blooms.
Once the plants have flowered, you can collect large black seeds from the base of where the flower came from. These seeds can be directly sown in the ground in the spring after the last frost in your area. They germinate quickly in 7 to 14 days. You can also soak the seeds in water the night before you plant them to further increase germination. When planting, cover the seeds with 1/4" of soil. Once the seeds germinate, thin to 2 feet apart.
At the end of the growing season in the fall, dig up tubers, brush off excess soil, and store in a dark area in damp peat moss or sand. The tubers will be ready for planting the after the last frost the next spring!
Bring some old-fashioned flare to your garden with 4 o'clocks!
Mindy, This post takes me back to my aunt and uncle's farm. They always grew bright fuschia and yellow four o' clocks. I haven't grown them for a long time, but I should do so next year. They really are very pretty.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Beth
Oh, I do love these. The light yellow one is just darling!
ReplyDeleteAmazing and astounding!
ReplyDeleteŁadne kwiatuszki, najbardziej mi się podobają te dwukolorowe. Pozdrawiam
ReplyDeleteI have never grown these but have heard great things from so many. Looks like they will be on my list for next year. Lovely
ReplyDeleteMindy,
ReplyDeleteI have never grown these, but vaguely remember having them in the garden as a child. It may be time to revisit this one. They are lovely.
Yael
I have a soft spot for old fashioned favorites. I saw hese growing in a garden last year, and now you remind me how delightful they are.
ReplyDeleteAwww, so pretty! They really brighten their little plot of earth. Do they grow well in pots?
ReplyDeleteI've never grown these. I'm used to flowers, like our native poppies, or redwood sorrel, refusing to open on an overcast day. How fun that these do the opposite! Such cheery blooms!
ReplyDeleteThis brings me back as well - I grew these many times, many years ago. They are a staple of New England cottage gardens but I never knew that you could save and plant the tubers. Thanks for sharing that gem!
ReplyDeleteMy 4 o'clocks hate me. They were so wilted in just morning sun and afternoon shade they looked like they were melting. I now have a pot of them in total shade and they are finally happy. They also didn't appreciate our hellfire heat wave and I'm surprised they're still alive. Yours look gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Casa Mariposa they hate me too! You have some beautiful, happy 4 o'clocks, the variegated one is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first year growing 4 O'Clocks! Enjoyed reading your blog :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog is wonderful. I am visual and love pictures. Thank you for doing it so well!!!
ReplyDelete