kushplant Four O'Clock Mix (Mirabilis jalapa) Flower plant with pot pack of 1

Description

Four o'clock plants (Mirabilis jalapa) are bushy flowering perennials. These tuberous-rooted plants produce slightly pointed oval leaves on branching stems. They get their common name because of the way they bloom. The flowers open in the late afternoon, typically around 4 p.m. or so, and then remain open until the next morning. The approximately 2-inch-long blooms are trumpet-shaped with five petals. This is a fast-growing plant that often sprawls in the garden. It’s best planted in the spring. They grow well in garden beds or in container plantings, and they mingle and grow through other plants nicely, making a pretty underplanting. After the plant is done blooming in the fall, the tuberous roots can be dug up and stored for winter in a cool (but not freezing), dark location. Replant them the following spring once temperatures are reliably above freezing. If you live within the plant's growing zones, the tubers can stay in the ground for winter. WATER: water your plants fairly regularly if you don’t have rainfall. But avoid overwatering, as soggy soil can cause rootrot. Mulching around the plants can help to keep the soil sufficiently moist. Plants grown in containers will generally need more regular watering than those in the ground. SUNLIGHT: Four o'clocks thrive in full sun, meaning approximately six hours of direct sunlight on most days. They tolerate partial shade. SOIL: These plants can grow in a variety of soil types. But rich, loamy, well-drained soil is ideal.