The Four O’Clock flower (scientifically known as *Mirabilis jalapa*) is a member of the Nyctaginaceae family and originally hails from the tropical regions of South America. What makes this perennial so magical is its ability to produce flowers of different colors on the very same plant! Even though these beauties are used to warmer climates, you can absolutely grow them in your own backyard. The only catch? You’ll need to dig up their tubers and keep them somewhere frost-free during the winter.
Growing Four O’Clocks
The Four O’Clock is a medium-sized perennial that can reach heights of up to three feet. Instead of a standard root system, it grows from underground tubers that send up leafy shoots. The real stars of the show, though, are the flowers. They grow in clusters of up to seven blooms, come in a variety of vibrant colors, and smell absolutely divine. True to their name, these flowers don’t wake up until late afternoon and stay open throughout the night.
Location and Soil
*Mirabilis* loves a warm, sheltered spot that gets plenty of full sun. You’ll want to provide rich, loose soil for them to thrive. One thing they can’t stand is “wet feet,” so if you’re planting them in pots, make sure you add some drainage at the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
Starting from Seed
You can easily find Four O’Clock seeds at your local garden center, or you can harvest them from your own plants. A quick heads-up: always wear gloves when handling the seeds because they are highly toxic. You can get a head start on the season by starting them indoors on a windowsill as early as March. Here’s how to do it:
- Gently scarify (nick or sand) the seed coats.
- Soak the seeds in chamomile tea for a few hours to soften them up.
- Fill seed trays with a good starting mix.
- Plant one or two seeds per pot and give them a good watering.
- Create a mini-greenhouse by popping a plastic bag over the pot to keep things warm and humid.
- Don’t forget to vent the bag regularly.
- Keep the pots in a warm, sunny spot on your windowsill.
You should see the first sprouts in about two weeks. Once they appear, ditch the plastic bag and keep the soil moist. Keep your young plants indoors until mid-May. During this time, they’ll be busy developing a small tuber underground, which acts as their power source. Once the threat of frost has passed, you can transplant them outside, spacing them about 20 inches apart.
Planting Tubers
If you’ve overwintered your tubers, you can put them back in the ground in May once the “Ice Saints” (the last spring frosts) have passed. Choose a sunny location with well-loosened, weed-free soil. Dig your planting holes about 20 inches apart, set the tubers in (not too deep!), and give them a gentle watering to welcome them back to the garden.
