Yellow Four O' Clock is night-blooming tender perennial that adds a burst of sunshine to any landscape! This bushy plant grows to a height of 2-3 feet, adorned with vibrant, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers that open in the late afternoon, filling the evening air with a sweet, jasmine-like fragrance - ideal for attracting hummingbirds. Yellow Four O' Clock flowers can exhibit fascinating variations in color, sometimes displaying stripes or spots of pink or red, making each bloom unique and adding to the visual appeal of the garden. Plant in spring after the last frost, and watch as they bloom from summer until fall while adding evening charm to your garden. Four O' Clock flowers get their name because they typically open in the late afternoon around 4 PM and stay open throughout the night. Besides its ornamental value, the flowers can be used to create natural dyes. Also Known As: Yellow Four O' Clock, Yellow Marvel of Peru, Mirabilis, Beauty of the Night, Jalap Plant, False Jalap, Clavillia, Afternoon Delight, Garden Jalap, Evening Trumpet Flower, Night Blooming Marvel. Plant Name: Four O' Clock, Yellow Latin Name: Mirabilis jalapa Days to Germinate: 10-20 Days to Bloom: 75 Plant Height: 2 - 3 Feet Spread: 1 - 2 Feet Bloom Diameter: 2 Inches Growth Habit: Bush USDA Zones: 2-11 Lifespan: Annual, Perennial 7-11 Brand: TomorrowSeeds Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade Pollination: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated GMO: No Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No Seeds Packed For**: 2026 *Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds. **Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates. Planting Instructions: Soil Preparation: Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 6-8 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. If the soil is heavy or clay-like, mix in some sand or compost to improve drainage. Optionally, form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 18 inches apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage, ensure good airflow, and make harvesting for cut flowers easier. Lay down 1/2"-3/4" peat moss, sawdust, or potting soil, the soil surface. This layer is beneficial for flower seeds because it can the improve the germination environment and prevent soil crusting. Planting: Starting Indoors: For earlier blooms, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 65F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when temperatures are consistently above 60F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Directly Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant after all danger of frost has passed in spring and soil temperatures reach at least 60F. Fall planting is not recommended unless planting outdoors in environments with mild, frost-free winters, or planting indoors with supplemental grow lights. If fall planting, plant in containers to prepare to store plants indoors over winter. To plant, make holes 1/2 inch deep and spaced 1-2 feet apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole, then cover thinly with soil. In small plots, flower seeds may be scattered and gently watered in. Once seedlings emerge, plants can separated and spaced 1-2 feet apart to allow room for mature plants to spread and prevent overcrowding. Water after planting. Planting Depth: 1/2 inch Within-Row Spacing: 1-2 feet Between-Row Spacing: 18-24 inches Care During the Season: Four O' Clocks enjoy moderate watering and are somewhat drought-tolerant once established. Optionally, apply a balanced fertilizer every few weeks to support healthy growth and flowering. Deadheading spent flowers isn’t necessary, as the plant self-seeds readily. However, if self-seeding is undesirable, remove developing seed pods. In warmer climates (USDA zones 7–11), Four O' Clocks grow as a perennial, with its tuberous roots surviving winter dormancy. In colder regions, mulch the roots heavily in fall or dig up tubers before the first frost, storing them in a cool, dry place for replanting in spring.
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