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By Jacqueline Cross (libellule) September 30, 2008
Marvel of Peru, Belle de Nuit, False Jalap, Four O'clock...no matter what name is attached to this plant, it brightens afternoon and moon gardens around the globe. As early as the sixteenth century, it was in fashion and made its way around the world to win hearts and surprise gardeners of all levels.
Mirabilis jalapa are commonly known as four o'clock, due to the fact that blooms unfurl about this time every afternoon and stay open into the night. It is also known as, Marvel of Peru, since it is a native of that country.
Mirabilis jalapa belong to the Nyctaginea family. Nyctaginea is from the Greek, nyx or nyxtos, which means, night-blooming. [1]
'Broken Colors' Photo by Dave's Garden member, Gabrielle
Growth Habit
Marvel of Peru typically grows between three and four feet tall. It is not unusual for Mirabilis jalapa to grow three feet in diameter.
The plant makes a nice small bush with elongated, heart-shaped leaves from deep green to lime. The oboe shaped blooms in colors ranging from white, yellow, pinks, red and variegated begin their show in midsummer and continue well into fall.
Growing in Home Gardens
Reported by gardeners in subtropical and tropical climates to be a perennial plant, the Mirabilis jalapa can be grown as an annual in more northern climates. This should not deter the northern gardener from trying the plant though, as it will quickly grow and reward the gardener with blooms from summer through fall.
Marvel of Peru is a herbaceous plant that forms a tuber which allows it to return stronger in subsequent years.
Seeds form readily on plant and can be collected daily. Seeds can be planted outside after last frost. New plants grow quickly from seed.
4-O'clock Seeds, Photo by Dave's Garden member, Floridian
*Seeds are poisonous if ingested. Other parts of plant may also be poisonous. [2]
In northern zones, tubers should be dug and stored for winter just like any other bulbs and tubers in northern gardens.
Soil, Light and Water Needs
Marvel of Peru likes loamy but well drained garden soil. However, it will grow in poor sandy soils and is a good plant for xeriscaping. The difference may be in the color of foliage which will be darker green in richer soil but still a lovely plant in poorer soil.
In northern zones, the plant should be grown in full sun. The further south it is planted, a bit of dappled shade is preferable but not necessary.
In early spring, while plants are emerging, regular watering will get them off to a good start. Average water is all the plant will need the rest of the season. It will even tolerate drought conditions once it is established.
The sweet, citrus-like scent of the blooms entice the Hawk Moth, (Agrius cingulata), to pollinate the plants at night.
Hawk Moth, Photo by Dave's Garden member, frostweed
Mirabilis jalapa can be invasive due to the amount of seeds produced in one season. Many people consider it a weed but if there is plenty of empty room to be filled in the garden or along a fence line, this is a wonderful plant to fill the space.
Above photos by Dave's Garden members, tubbss5(top-pink/white), Thaumaturg(center-pink)
Yellow 4-O'clock photo by Dave's Garden member, htop
About Jacqueline Cross
I'm a native Floridian...feet planted in the shifting sands of northwest FL. but my heart strings are tightly knotted to the hills of Tennessee.
I live my poodle, Minnie Pearl, Zsa Zsa the cat who runs the whole show and a new addition, Kitty Belle.
I'm a writer, gardener, quilter, cross stitcher, soapmaker and nature lover. Mother to 3 wonderful daughters & Nana to 6 perfect grandchildren.
I also write for Suite101 and was promoted to Feature Writer in the vegetable gardens section in 2008.
Posted by mary0520 (from Olive Branch, MS) on October 6, 2008 at 9:47 PM:
I too wonder where you can get seeds for the different colors. i only have yellow and red. i love them, hardly ever have to water them. i live in north mississippi and i have some in the sun and some in shady areas.
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on October 7, 2008 at 11:12 AM:
Hey Mary,
Burpee's has the multi-colored seeds.
Four O'Clocks Kaleidoscope - 1 Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.50
Posted by grunghog (from Mcdonough, GA) on September 30, 2008 at 9:13 PM:
I am just curious, I thought I heard somewhere that ashes is good for the garden. Does anyone know if the ashes from barbecue brikettes is good for the garden? Sorry I just hate throwing out anything. I like to recycle. Some thoughs please. Thank you
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 11:20 PM:
Grunghog,
I've never used coal ashes in the garden, only wood ash. I found these two articles online about using ashes. The first one concerns coal ash.
J
Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 5:53 PM:
Good Article Great Pictures Paul
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on October 7, 2008 at 11:13 AM:
Thanks Paul. :-)
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Subject: well done
Posted by gardenpom (from Melbourne, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 7:02 AM:
I don't think my gardens have ever been without a Four O' Clock or two or three! (sort of reminds me of that Chicago song).
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Posted by joeswife (from (Debra) Derby, KS) on September 30, 2008 at 8:01 AM:
hehe me neither.. I have four o clocks right out my back door on eith side they are at least 4 foot tall and I love the scent.. I COLLECT different colours, I need some varigated ones. I have fushia, pink, salmon, yellow, white. I love to put them all around the yard to have colour in the evening. would post a pic but you or anyone else can go to my site to see them.. [HYPERLINK@hondagrl57.multiply.com] look in the photos page or go to the flickr link
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Posted by youngershirl (from Orange Park, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 8:38 AM:
My sister-n-law recently gave me some seeds. I have just thought of a place I could plant them. Thanks for the inspiration!
Joeswife, love your web site. Beautiful gardens.
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Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 9:48 AM:
Thanks for the article.
As a newbie to Four O'clocks - now that the blooming will start to taper off what should I do with my large bush. I am in zone 10.
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Posted by gardenpom (from Melbourne, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 9:56 AM:
I usually just break mine way back close to the ground and they come back strong.
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Posted by dahlianut (from Calgary, AB) on September 30, 2008 at 10:19 AM:
Thanks for the article. Interesting bit of trivia: Four o'clocks are seven am oclocks here. A few of us grow them as annuals and wonder why this happens. Perhaps our latitude makes the angle of the morning sun seem like afternoon to them? Wonderful companions with my morning coffee so I don't mind.
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Posted by gardenpom (from Melbourne, FL) on September 30, 2008 at 10:21 AM:
Here during the hot season (most of the year), they rarely open for me until evening.
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Posted by joeswife (from (Debra) Derby, KS) on September 30, 2008 at 10:29 AM:
I shape my four o clocks to be supportive to my other plants like tomatoes that seem to want to vine ..mine by the back door are supporting my cherry tomatoes and covering as an umbrella my violets and pentas.. i break them off quite often and throw them down where I wat new plants to start up.. if u pinch them out at first four leaves they branch real nice..thnks for visiting my sit if anyone wants seeds just holler up!
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Posted by 1973tr6 (from Jefferson, ME) on October 6, 2008 at 7:14 AM:
After a couple of weeks of sub 40 degree nighttime temperature the Four O'clocks are looking a bit ragged. The blooms have receded and seed production is on in earnest. Soon, along with the neighboring dahlias (which currently look spectacular) they'll be dug and stored for something like the 20th year. Like dahlianut's plants, here the flowers can be open morning or early evening or both! What fun to grow a plant with such a regal history.
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Posted by Tomato50 (from Beltsville, MD) on October 6, 2008 at 12:57 PM:
We delighted in these plants as kids when a neighbor shared seeds or volunteer plants with us. There has to be a special reward in Heaven for adults who take time to talk with children and nourish their dreams and interests, especially when it comes to gardening. We moved and left the Four O'Clocks behind. Years later, I was walking with a friend through an old Atlanta neighborhood one summer evening when I suddenly was hit with that powerful, delightful fragrance. I stopped and bent down, looking for the flowers from my childhood in an old garden border. Larger plants hid them from the sidewalk enough that I did not notice them in passing, but the fragrance in the warm air announced their presence. I quickly pocketed a few of the black seeds for my family's yard. The tubers survived most Atlanta winters as they do up here in the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
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Posted by joeswife (from (Debra) Derby, KS) on October 6, 2008 at 4:21 PM:
my tubers stay where they are and i can count on them to come back strong after a Kansas winter, I always have seeds to put in different areas, and especially anywhere near an open window might be. .. wish they made an airfreshner called "4 o'clock lovely! " or... even a perfume!
'Broken Colors' Photo by Dave's Garden member, Gabrielle
4-O'clock Seeds, Photo by Dave's Garden member, Floridian
Hawk Moth, Photo by Dave's Garden member, frostweed
