Four O'Clock Flower White

Four O'Clock Flower White — variety description

Four O'Clock Flower White (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.

It reaches a height of 60 - 90 cm.

The showy mixture consists of 3 marbled varieties, striped and bicoloured flowers, all eye-catching.

These fragrant flowers open in the late afternoon, hence the plant’s common name.

It continues to flower until the next morning, filling the garden with its evening fragrance.

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: 95%
• Pack size: 1 g
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: March and April; direct or as seedlings
• Flowering: June – November
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Four O'Clock Flower White

Four O'Clock Flower White seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower in June – November. 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 White

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

Sow the seeds indoors on the surface of lightly firmed, moist compost in pots or trays and cover with compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or a warm place at 20-25°C until emergence, which usually takes 7-21 days. When they are large enough to handle, transplant them. Gradually acclimatise the plants to cooler conditions over a few weeks before planting them outdoors, once the risk of frost has passed. Plant them 30 cm apart.

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 White be sown?

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

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 95%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.