Description
The four o'clock flower (marvel of Peru) is grown as an annual and belongs to the four o'clock family (Nyctaginaceae). It comes from Mexico. Its stems reach 70–80 cm, branching from the base, thick and stiff, and the leaves are egg-shaped and pointed.
It flowers from mid-July to the end of August, starting when most annuals are already in full bloom. The flowers are funnel-shaped, white, yellow or red, clustered in the axils of the upper leaves. They open at about 4 p.m., flower for one night with a pleasant scent and fade the next morning.
Requirements
Mirabilis needs fertile, moist soil and a sunny position.
Propagation
It is propagated from seed or by dividing the tuberous roots. Sow the seeds in mid-March in a warm or semi-warm cold frame, or in April in a cold frame. Plant out in the final position in the second half of May at 50 x 50 cm. The tuberous roots are divided like dahlia tubers: lift the clumps in autumn, store them in a frost-free place over winter, and divide them before planting out. Plants grown this way flower earlier and very profusely.
Care
It is planted in borders or in groups, and less often used as a cut flower. Water it during droughts. For abundant flowering, feed it every 10–14 days.