Four O'Clock, Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa)

by Mitjo May 22, 2003 1:47 PM

Cheery yellow blooms appear abundantly despite the August heat. (San Antonio, Tx.)

Dubai UAE zone 11 April 2003

seeds

These were grown from seed and they are 4-month old, blooming in Rockledge, Florida (32955).

Roots of the Four O'Clock

Beautiful and very fragrant blooms!

Fuschia colored mirabilis in India

These are the second year of this plant. They came back from tubers and are currently about 6 feet tall. June 19th, 2002.

Each flower contains a single seed. Place a big container (like the lid of a trashcan) under the plant and then shake the branches. Giggle in delight as its rains seeds into your container.

These are extremely invasive re-seeders! Oofta!

Close up of Purple Flower

four o'clock seed

Pure white -- here it opens around 8 PM.

Seeds 9-01-03

These were grown from seed and they are 4-month old, blooming in Rockledge, Florida (32955). This photo shows 2 flowers from the back. It was taken indoors under artificial light near midnight when the flower opens the most. Fine mist spray added to enhance the depth of field and the contrast.

Mirabilis can also be grown inside but they don't look very pretty if they don't get enoguh light ;) Mine started blooming after I took it inside, as the weather outside began getting colder. It is still doing fine after a month and produced two seeds as well :}

Fall sown seed

This is a magenta colored bloom backlit by the setting sun.

These red, yellow, magenta and broken colored blooms on different plants which form a huge clump.

Too big for it's spot. Size comparison to a 45 lb standard poodle. Great if you have the room.

Seedlings

Young plants

Ready to bloom...

The top of a leaf...

and the bottom of the leaf. The main vein sticks out a bit.

The stem structure.

Green seedpod.

New buds, spent buds and seedpods.

4 o'clock in early fall

A beautiful White Four O'clock in my yard.

It folds up like this when the sun arrives in the morning.

Grown as a caudiciform in southern California- here for sale in the cactus and succulent sale, Huntington Gardens.

Pale yellow Mirabilis Jalapa. Collecting the bounty of seeds each evening is quite a stress reliever.

Pretty pink Mirabilis Jalapa. Collecting the bounty of seeds each evening is quite a stress reliever. Seed harvest 09-20-2006 zone 7.

white 4o'clock

Unfortunately you can't see all the colors in this photo, but in the background there are yellow&red mixed 4 o'clocks that I like to call confetti-I adore them!