«Jalapa Mixed» - Organic Mirabilis Seeds
1.14 €
Four o’clocks is a large, bushy, tender herbaceous perennial from tropical America. Fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in abundance all summer. Flowers open in late afternoon and last until morning.
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Organic Mirabilis «Jalapa Mixed»
Four o’clocks is a large, bushy, tender herbaceous perennial from tropical America. Fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in abundance all summer. Flowers open in late afternoon and last until morning.
Small, black, ribbed, egg-shaped seed capsules follow the flowers. Large, paired, oval leaves densely clothe the upright stems, which are swollen at their joints. Where hardy, plants die back to tuberous roots after frost and resprout in spring. This plant also often persists by self-sowing, both within and outside its hardiness range.
Four o’clocks do well in reasonably fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, where it often self-sows prolifically. In colder districts, dig and store the tubers in fall or watch for self-sown seedlings in spring. It adds fragrance and color to borders or patio containers. Be sure to place it where its nocturnal flowers will be appreciated. Four O’Clocks can take some shade, but at least 6 hours of sun is needed for best flowering.
How to Grow
Soil: Four O’Clocks ares not particular about soil pH, but do best in a soil that is neutral to slightly acidic. They are heavy feeders, though, and a rich, well-draining soil is ideal. They can go dormant if left in dry conditions for too long.
Planting Four O’Clocks: Where FOur O'Clocks are perennial, you can divide and replant the tubers pretty much anytime. In colder climates, tubers can be dug and stored in the fall, to be replanted when the soil warms in the spring. Four O'Clocks can also be grown from seed. The easiest method is to direct seed them outdoors, just before your last frost date.
Soaking the seeds overnight, before planting, can speed germination, but the seeds germinate almost as quickly as the plants grow. Chances are good that if you allow your plants to go to seed in the fall, they will self-seed in the garden. Seedlings can be easily pulled and moved to another section