If you are thinking about growing 4 o’clock flowers indoors, you will be happy to know that they are relatively easy to care for. These beautiful flowers are native to South America and get their name from the fact that they often bloom in the late afternoon or early evening. 4 o’clock flowers are also known as Marvel of Peru and they make a great addition to any indoor garden.
The four o’clock flowers were named after their shyness in direct sunlight, according to legend. When growing four o’clocks, you’ll notice they tend to close their blooms during the hottest part of the day and open their flowers after the sun rises. Four mirabilis bushes can reach a height of 1 to 3 feet at maturity. They are tender perennial plants that thrive in warmer climates, particularly zones 7 and 10. If you want to keep your Mirabilis jalapa bulbs, you may need to dig them up if you live in a rural area. It’s simple to add four o’clock bulbs to your clocks. The only thing you need to do is dig, water, and wait for the dark brown, carrot-like tubers to sprout.
If you grow Four O’Clocks in Container Gardens, your Mirabilis jalapa flowers will be able to grow as well. Four o’clock flowers can be grown in as little as five years from seed. They germinate quite quickly and grow quite quickly. Some four o’clocks have solid tones, while others have stripes and speckles to match their fine finishes. The seeds of the Mirabilis jalapa variety are available in yellow and pink blends or a pink and white combination. In broad daylight, a volunteer four o’clock plant opened its first bloom, displaying a stunning and truly beautiful marbled pink and white blossom. We were taken aback by the beauty we discovered in our garden. It’s wonderful to enjoy a different type of thing than what we’ve been accustomed to for quite some time.
Do 4 O Clocks Come Back Every Year?
Four o’clock is a tender perennial that produces tuberous roots, despite being commonly thought of as an annual. The flower will flower better if grown from one of those tubers rather than from seeds. If the foliage has been destroyed by frost, it is possible that you will need to dig up the roots.
A four o’clock is a tender perennial hardy in Zones 7-10 that is widely grown as an annual in the United States. Four o’clocks are hardy, bushy plants that can reach heights of more than four feet. These plants can easily be grown from seeds and their thick, fleshy roots. This well-liked flower requires only a few waterings per week and is drought tolerant. Four o’clocks are good candidates for overwintering and replanting in the spring because they have sturdy underground tubers that are well suited to overwintering. When the foliage is nipped by a light frost, it is best to cut back the plants to 3 to 4 inches above ground level.
Where Do Four O’clocks Grow Best?
Four o’clocks thrive in the full sun in almost any type of soil, but humus-rich, well-drained soils are ideal. In the case of plants that have not been exposed to frost in the preceding eight weeks, seeds sown outdoors can be planted as soon as possible after the threat of frost passes. When seeds are soaked in water overnight, they germinate faster.
Colorful, bushy annuals with a sweet lemon or orange scent are known as four o clock flowers. When grown as transplants, they begin flowering in midsummer, but if grown directly as seeds, they will bloom earlier. Individual flowers open between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. (hence the name), with the majority of them opening after 4 p.m. Four o clock flowers, which are perennial flowers in warmer climates, provide underground tubers that will be overwintered. After the flowers have faded in autumn, collect the black seeds to sow in your garden next spring or thin out your self-sown seeds the following year. In flower gardens and on patio and deck decks, plant four o clocks in the form of a flower garden, walkway, or container. The 4 o clock can be grown directly from seed right now. By mid-summer, it is a shrub that is between 1 and 2 feet tall and wide. Each plant in most varieties has a distinct flower color. Despite the fact that they can take a little shade, the best time to plant 4 o clock flowers is in the full sun.
What Grows Well With Four O Clocks?
Other drought-tolerant plants, such as lantana, melampodium, and Goldstrum rudbeckia, can be grown in the cottage garden. If you want to grow the summer phlox in the morning sun and afternoon shade, you should grow it in the morning sun and afternoon shade.
Four O’clock Flowers Poisonous
It is not harmful to humans, but it is harmful to this plant. A sap of four o’clock is a mild irritant that causes itching. Furthermore, the plant contains a lot of caffeine, which can make you feel sleepy or sick.
The nightshade family includes four o’clock flowers, potato, tomato, peppers, eggplant, and tobacco plants. Because a plant can grow two to four feet tall, it is best to prune it into a hedge during the growing season. Because birds eat the seeds, this plant can become an invasive species in warm climates. If you suspect your dog is poisoned on 4 o’clock, you should take him to the nearest veterinarian. It is most likely the best course of action if they spread into lawns. Round-up is also effective at controlling the situation, but only those plants that appear in the round should be targeted. Ted Manzer teaches agriculture at Northeastern High School in North Carolina.
I’ve always loved to collect foraging materials, but combining my formal botanical knowledge with their practical ‘Foxfire’ background has given me a new perspective. Many of the plants I profile in my articles in those books were heavily influenced by foraging references. In addition to Virginia, my first romance novel, I wrote an entirely different romantic story for men.
This flower’s four o’clock variants have a long history of use as a therapeutic plant and are known for their anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and anxiety-relieving properties. Gardeners who prefer colorful, fragrant flowers that attract bees will appreciate this plant. Gardeners who are interested in the four o’clock flower can grow it themselves, and the Department of Natural Resources does not encourage the use of non-native plants or exotic plants deemed aggressive invasive in nature.
Transplanting Four O’clock Plants
Will it ever be possible to transplant 4 o clock units? If you save four o’clock tubers (bulbs) in the winter, you can transplant them in the spring. The 4 o’clock bulb can be planted in the same way that any other perennial would be.
O’clock Plants
Some plants are called o’clock plants because they have flowers that open at certain times of the day. For example, the common morning glory plant opens its flowers at around 6 or 7 in the morning.
A cluster of flowering plants (Mirabilis jalapa) bloom from spring to summer in a cluster called an o’clock. Their common name derives from the way they bloom. Around 4 p.m. or so, the flowers begin to emerge. Mulching around plants can keep soil moist, and watering can help keep plants alive. The four o’clock plant can be divided into several types. As long as there is adequate soil moisture, humidity is not a problem for them. It is not necessary to plant these plants directly in the garden after frost has passed.
When they go to seed in the fall, they will self-seed in your garden. It is not possible to keep four o’clock plants alive by deadheading them. As a general rule, the best way to get the most blooms from your plants is to provide as much light as possible. Aphids are thought to be the cause of leaves curling at 4 o’clock each night. If your plant is not blooming, it could be because it is too hot.
Clock Flowers
There is no such thing as a “clock flower.”