Four O'Clock Flower Salmon

Four O'Clock Flower Salmon: variety and characteristics

Four O'Clock Flower Salmon (Mirabilis jalapa) is a perennial flower of the Nyctaginaceae family. Four o’clock flower is also called the marvel of Peru.

Its beautiful flowers open in the afternoon and have a light, pleasant fragrance.

This species was cultivated by the Aztecs for medicinal and ornamental purposes, and worldwide for cosmetic purposes and as a source of dye.

It reaches a height of 60 - 90 cm.

Four o’clock flower (Mirabilis) opens its fragrant flowers in the afternoon and at dusk – often in different colours on the same plant. It is grown as an annual.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 94%
• Seeds per packet: 12–17 pcs (1 g)
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: March and April; direct or as seedlings
• Flowering: July – October
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Four O'Clock Flower Salmon

Four O'Clock Flower Salmon seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower from July to October. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Four O'Clock Flower Salmon

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 1–2 cm
• Spacing: 40–50 cm
• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22 °C
• Position: sunny spot

It develops best in full sun. It likes ordinary but well-drained soil. It is important, if sowing indoors, to do so at room temperature, 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. Outdoor sowing: 1 week after the last spring frost. Sowing depth - 1 cm. While it is actively growing, keep the soil moist and warm. Sowing: March. Flowering: summer to mid-autumn.

Soak the seeds for a few hours. In autumn the tubers can be lifted and stored. The seeds are poisonous.

Flowering and uses

Flowers from July until the frosts.

Frequently asked questions

When should Four O'Clock Flower Salmon be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 12–17 seeds, pack size 1 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 94%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.