Four oclock flowers blossom profusely and emit a lovely fragrance all summer.
The night-blooming perennial is a must for moon gardens.
Four oclock flowers boast fragrant, tubular-shaped blooms in various colors and patterns.
Credit: David Speer
Sometimes, blossoms of different shades appear on the same plant.
However, their most special trait is their daily blooming cycle.
In the late afternoon, around 4 p.m. (hence the name), these showy flowers open up.
Credit: David Speer
They remain open overnight, but the colorful blooms are closed by morning.
Four oclock flowers are a classiccottage gardenbulb that usually self-seeds after its initial planting.
The roots and seeds of four oclock flowers are considered mildly toxic to humans.Wear gloves when handling the plant.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Situate thisnighttime bloomernear a front porch, deck, or bedroom window to enjoy its fragrance during warm evenings.
Some varieties of four oclock flowers can be grown as a groundcover in warm climates.
Before planting, soak the seeds in water overnight to improve their odds of germinating.
Credit: Jon Jensen
If you prefer to work with seedlings or dormant tubers, plant them outside after the last frost date.
When seedlings emerge, thin them to 12 to 18 inches apart.
Transplanted seedlings should also be planted 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for growth.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Space multiple tubers about 24 inches apart and water them thoroughly when you are finished planting.
Four OClock Flowers Care Tips
Little hands-on maintenance is required to care for four oclock flowers.
Regular watering and feeding is all they need, with an occasional pruning.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Light
Plant four oclock flowers infull sun.
Many varieties tolerate part shade but might flop over because of the plants large size and fast growth pattern.
Avoid overwatering, as this causes root rot.
Once established, four oclock flowers are somewhat drought-tolerant.
Temperature and Humidity
Four oclock flowers are tenderperennialsthat dont tolerate temperatures below 30F.
However, in warmer climates, the tubers can overwinter in the ground for fresh growth the following spring.
Four oclock flowers are not fussy about humidity.
Pinch as close to the leaf nodes as possible without damaging the buds underneath.
Ideally, the plant sending out multiple new stems from the pinch point.
Look for smaller varieties if you want to plant the perennial in pots.
Wear gloves and use a garden fork to pull up the tubers.
Rinse them off and dry them in a shady spot for about a week.
Replant the dormant tubers when the danger of frost has passed in the spring.
Pests and Problems
When four oclock flowers grow in part-shade conditions, powdery mildew may occur.
How to Propagate Four OClock Flowers
There are two ways to propagate four oclock flowers from seed.
Use caution when handling the seeds, as they contain toxic compounds.
Dry thesaved seedsin a cool location for several days and then place them in an envelope.
Keep the packet of seeds in a cool, dry place until the following spring.
Prepare a tray or grow pots with moist potting mix and sow the seeds about a quarter-inch deep.
Do not allow the soil to completely dry out.
Once seedlings emerge, they should behardened offfor a week before they are transplanted outdoors.
Since four oclock flowers are a tender perennial that produces tuberous roots,the plant can also be divided.
Look for bulbous growth buds (or eyes) that branch from the original stem.
Cut the tuber apart with a sharp, straight-edged knife (not a serrated one).
Each division needs a section of the original stem and an eye for successful division.
Replant the divided tubers immediately to avoid shocking the plant.
Red Glow
MirabilisRed Glow is a four oclock flower thatbears vibrant red flowers on 2-foot-tall plants.
Plant cosmos from seed directly in the ground in spring or start from established seedlings.
Cosmos plants are hardy in Zones 2-11.
Flowering Tobacco
There are several types of nicotiana, more commonly known asflowering tobacco.
A cousin of the regular tobacco plant, this fragrant bloomer is hardy in Zones 10-11.
The taller, white-only types, which can reach 5 feet, add drama to the back of borders.
Any variety isideal for night gardensas theyre usually most fragrant at dusk.
Petunia
Petuniasare vigorous growers and prolific bloomers from mid-spring through late fall.
Color choices are nearly limitlesssome have beautiful veining in the blooms, and many are sweetly fragrant.
Somepetunia varietiesalso tout themselves as weatherproof, meaning the flowers dont close up when water splashes them.
Zones 9-11 are ideal for planting petunias as perennials.
They grow as annuals in cooler Zones.
Plus, the blossoms of some varieties are streaked, splashed, or striped in a host of colors.
In addition to its multicolored blossoms, four oclock flowers feature more than one foliage color.
Four oclock flowers rapidly grow and spread.
Clean up dropped seeds to keep the plant from becoming aggressive in your garden.
These colorful blooms attract bees, moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
