Mirabilis jalapa

The Four O'Clocks in this varied mix display flowers in various colours, including white, different shades of pink, red, yellow, and even orange and salmon, in varying proportions. The large black seeds of Mirabilis jalapa form an opulent, well-branched bush in three months, with glossy green foliage adorned with trumpet-shaped flowers. They open in the late afternoon, releasing a sweet fragrance, and close when struck by the sun. Not very hardy, but easy to sow and cultivate, Four O'Clocks are used in flower beds or large pots on the terrace.

Mirabilis jalapa, or Marvel of Peru, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Nyctaginaceae family native to dry tropical regions of Central and South America, such as Guatemala, Mexico, Chile, and Peru. It develops a large black tuberized root, which has traditional medicinal uses in various regions of the world. The Four O'Clock is a perennial herbaceous plant 60 to 80cm (24 to 32in) tall, sometimes taller in hot climates and fertile soil, occupying a ground surface of 40 to 60cm (16 to 24in). It is not very hardy, but its rapid growth allows it to be grown as an annual. In our climates, it disappears in winter, blooms from June to October, but in the tropics, it is perennial and blooms all year round. The trumpet-shaped flowers, 4cm (2in) in diameter, open in the evening and close the next day when the sun hits them. They emit a sweet fragrance from dusk until the heart of the night. This particular characteristic has given the plant its name Four O'Clock: its scented flowers have fluorescent pigments that create patterns on the corolla and attract pollinating sphinx moths. The fruit, black in colour, appears at the base of the flower after it has fallen. The dichotomous stems are solid, quadrangular, fleshy, green to reddish in colour, thickened at the nodes, and bear opposite, ovate leaves with rounded or slightly cordate bases, glossy medium green, lighter on limestone soil and in full sun.

Four O'Clocks are used in flower beds, at the base of walls facing east (preferably south in the north). You will spend a good part of the summer in their company. They also grow very well in large, deep pots, ensuring regular watering and fertilization. Some ideas to accompany them: with Daturas, euphorbias, Lady's Mantle... This plant can be grown like a dahlia, and its tuber can be overwintered frost-free in a sandy mixture.