Four O'Clock plant profile
Mirabilis jalapa
An annual flower for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Four O'Clock
Four o'clock is a semi-woody perennial grown as an annual in colder areas. NC State plants stored tuberous roots in spring after the last frost; seed can be sown then too, and soaking seed overnight speeds germination. In zones 8 to 9 the tubers can be left in the ground to regrow.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Four O'Clock in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Annual
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: self seeding, roots and seeds mildly poisonous.
Next steps
Continue with Four O'Clock
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Mirabilis jalapa (Four-o'clock, Marvel-of-Peru)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.