Melinda Myers

Four O'Clocks

Botanical Name

Mirabilis jalapa

Min Zone

9

Max Zone

11

Height

2 to 3 feet

Width

2 to 3 feet

Flowers

Summer to frost: 1 inch funnel-shaped tubular, opening in late afternoon; white, red, yellow,, magenta, pink, mottled or striped; fragrant

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Tolerant of a wide range of soils
• Tolerates heat and pollution
• Sow seeds directly in the garden after last frost date
• Seeds can be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before last frost
• Set out transplants or overwintered tubers in the garden after last frost date
• Tubers can be dug up in fall and stored for winter in peat or sand in a frost free location

Problems

None serious

Varieties

• Alba - white flowers
• Orange Crush - bright orange blooms
• Salmon Sunset - salmon pink flowers
• Limelight - chartreuse foliage, neon pink flowers