Four O'Clocks

Can you tell me more about 4-oclock flowers? Do they really only bloom at 4 o’clock, and will they grow in my area?

Four-o’clocks may not open exactly at 4pm but they will open in late afternoon, flower for the evening and wither by morning. But each afternoon from summer till frost brings an abundance of new blooms. It is considered a hardy perennial in zones 7 to 11 and grown as a shrub in zones 10 and 11. It is treated as an annual in northern regions. It will self sow and if the soil is left undisturbed will return most years on its own. This is a desirable feature for northern gardeners but can be a problem in southern areas if seedlings are not managed. Unchecked seedlings develop large tubers that make eliminating mature plants difficult. These long blooming plants grow best in full sun to part shade, tolerate most soils, heat and pollution. And look but don’t eat as all parts of this plant are said to be poisonous.

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