2 named cultivars

perennialN. America Native

Four O'Clock

The Story

Plant Bio

Mirabilis jalapa, the four o'clock flower, is a bushy tuberous perennial from Mexico and Central America, eighteen inches to four feet high. Trumpet-shaped flowers in magenta, yellow, white, pink and striped forms open in late afternoon and stay open overnight, releasing a strong sweet scent, and are followed by hard black ribbed seeds.

A single plant commonly carries several flower colours at once, and can even produce striped and split-coloured blooms on the same stem — an unusual trait that made it an early subject in the study of inheritance. The seeds and roots are toxic, and the hard black seeds are exactly the sort of thing children pick up.

Uses & Benefits:

Trumpet flowers in several colours on one plant, opening in the evening and scenting the garden.

Grows and flowers from seed in a single season, and the tubers can be stored and replanted for years.

Night-flying moths and hummingbirds feed at the flowers, which are shaped and timed for them.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

27 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

8, 9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Mexico to Central America

Toxicity

Seeds and roots toxic if eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Sow or plant out after the last frost in full sun.
Give it any reasonable soil; it is undemanding.
Site it near a seat or path for the evening scent.
Deadhead if you want to limit self-seeding.
Lift and store the tubers below zone 7.
Keep the seeds away from small children.

Pro Tip

The flowers open in late afternoon and scent the garden overnight, so site it where you sit in the evening rather than where you pass at noon.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant it where you sit in the evening 🌙
Give it full sun and ordinary soil ☀️
Lift tubers in cold zones to overwinter 🥔
Deadhead to limit self-seeding ✂️

Don't

Let children collect the black seeds ❌
Expect flowers open at midday ❌
Leave tubers in frozen ground below zone 7 ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lift
Sow

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evening-scented planting near a seatCottage garden and mixed borderNight garden and moth planting

Companion Plants

NicotianaMoonflower Zinnia Cosmos Cleome

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Four O'Clock questions

What zones can Four O'Clock grow in?

Four O'Clock is hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Four O'Clock deer resistant?

Yes — Four O'Clock is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Four O'Clock bloom?

Four O'Clock typically blooms in summer to fall through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Four O'Clock need full sun?

Four O'Clock does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Four O'Clock drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Four O'Clock handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.