The Four O’Clock Flower, also known as the Marvel of Peru, is a beautiful and unique flower that has many interesting features. This flower is native to South America, and its name comes from the fact that it often blooms in the late afternoon or early evening. The Four O’Clock Flower is a member of the Solanaceae family, which also includes such plants as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. This flower is characterized by its large, trumpet-shaped bloom, which can be up to six inches in diameter. The bloom is usually a deep red color, but it can also be white, pink, or yellow. The Four O’Clock Flower is a relatively easy plant to grow, and it makes an excellent addition to any garden.
The flower of the four-o’clock plant is known by many names, including its white and yellow flowers, which come in various shades of pink and red, as well as streaked and mottled foliage that can last from late afternoon to early morning.
The multi-branched, shrub-like plants grow 2-3 feet tall and wide, appearing erect, erect, and spreading. When supported, weak and brittle stems can easily break and flop over. They can be white, light-green, or yellow, depending on the color.
Flower seeds are able to be grown from seed, but our bulbs, which form when you plant the seed, grow faster and provide you with months more flowers. Lift the bulbs in the fall, as you would with dahlias, and replant them the following spring to provide a greater variety of flowers. The foliage is a green arrow.
Do 4 O’clock Flowers Come Back Every Year?
Plants grow to be two or three feet tall in sunny spots or in part shade and bloom from midsummer to frost. Four o’clocks return every year from overwintering tubers on the ground in relatively warm-winter climates.
Four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) can be grown from seed and are extremely hardy. In sunny areas or under shade, they can grow to be two to three feet tall and bloom from midsummer to frost. Every year, four o’clocks return from overwintering tubers in relatively warm-winter climates.
In zones 9–11, a four o’clock requires a hardy setting, but in warm climates, it thrives. In cold climates, they may not return as frequently as they do in warm climates, and they may be smaller. Place the four o’clocks in a sunny spot in your garden or in a container. When the soil is dry, water them once a month in the spring and twice a month in the summer. When it’s time to plant, plant them in the fall.
When Should 4 O Clocks Be Planted?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the climate and the type of 4 o clock plant you are growing. However, as a general guide, 4 o clocks should be planted in the spring or early summer.
Flowers with four o’clock hours appear to be interesting plants to grow due to their ability to respond to temperature and not like heat. As a result, the flowers will only open at night when daytime temperatures drop significantly, sometimes much later than 4 p.m. They can usually be opened between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., and only at night. It is not necessary to prune your plants, but if wilted flowers are left on them, they will grow taller and produce more new flowers. The four o’clock flower is invasive, but it is quite simple to control its growth by pulling out excess plants when they sprout; even though it regrows every year, it is still quite adaptable.
Where Should I Plant 4 O’clock Flowers?
Four o’clocks thrive in a sun-to-part sun area, and they are best grown in areas with plenty of sun to allow their heady aroma to thrive. It is a good idea to soak or nick the seed coat before planting to make sure it is completely dry. It is a well-liked flower that requires little upkeep and is drought tolerant.
The four o’clock tuber produces bright, tuberous roots as a tender perennial. The flowers are ultimately better if grown from one of those tubers rather than from seed. To provide air circulation, cut a few holes in a cardboard box and cover the bottom with a thick layer of newspapers or brown paper bags, then store the tubers in the box. If you have several tubers, you can stack them up to three layers deep, with a thick layer of newspapers or brown paper bags between each layer. This method is a tried and true method that has produced good results in the past. It is the only one that grows the four o’clock tuber. If you want to give it a shot, you should keep the tubers in a cool, dark place to ensure that they survive.
Four O’clock Flowers Annual Or Perennial
Four o’clocks are hardy, bushy perennial plants that can reach a height of more than four feet. They have thick, fleshy roots, making them easy to propagate from seeds. Perfumed blossoms are displayed on four o’clocks throughout the summer and fall. Early spring is a common time for plants to bloom.
Four O’clock Flowers Poisonous
An itchy skin reaction occurs when a sap from four o’clock strikes the body. Furthermore, eating the plant can cause stomach upset or other intestinal issues.
Harvesting Four O’clock Seeds
The seeds are difficult to come by once they are on the ground, so it is best to pick them as soon as they turn dark brown and dry out. When planting seeds, nylon pantyhose can be used to cover the flower heads, allowing them to catch the seeds as they fall without blocking air flow.