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Related
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US & Canada
Planting Zones
Gardener's Net
Mirabalis jalapa: Four O'Clock
Four O'Clock, Marvel of Peru
Did
You Know?
Showy Four O' clocks have been used for dyes and their medicinal
properties, both in prehistoric times and modern day. The Navajos boiled
the flowers to make a light brown or purple color for dying wool. The
Hopis used the roots of older plants to make a blood-strengthening
tea for pregnant women, and to treat various other medical conditions.
And The Acoma and Laguna pueblo tribes dried the leaves for smoking
material.
Natural
Pest &
Environment Controls
PyolaTM
and Soap-Shield®
Save on this Special Spray Combo
Gardeners should have these two products on hand right from the start
of the season -- Pyola to control insect pests and Soap-Shield to fight
disease. Buy combo and pay $5.95 less than if purchased separately!
Escar-Go!
Protect your plants from nasty slug damage. Lured by the tasty bait,
slugs and snails stop feeding soon after they eat Escar-Go!
 
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| June 2004
Some
say it has a sedative property, but most people grow this
plant for the showy flowers, no doubt the reason why it is
also known as 'the Marvel of Peru'. This plant is considered
a perennial sub-shrubs in my zone, but is grown as an annual
in cooler regions, which is why I have it classified as an
annual. Four o'clocks are easy to grow, are OK in part or
full sun, are drought-tolerant and will thrive in most any
soil. In fact, I tried to get rid of some, and it actually
proved to be quite difficult to make sure I got all the tubers
out! Their name derives from the fact that their flowers
open in the late afternoon and stay open until the next morning,
except on cloudy days when they open earlier. The fragrance
of four-o'clocks is appealing, as is the fact that they attract
hummingbirds to the garden. This year has been a great year
for these plants, and although they are in a place that doesn't
even get that much sun, the flowers are abundant. and sure
enough, they open like clockwork, every afternoon. As someone
who is somewhat chroologically challenged as I like to call
it (others just call it "always
late"), it's kind of funny to have plant that is better
at knowing what time it is than I am, but then, these are the
mysteries of nature at work. So it goes. I
figure if Thomas Jefferson could grow this baby at his place
in Monticello, I'm in good company...
Flowers
Alive!™
Slow-release nutrients encourage prolific bloom without excess foliage growth.
Research shows: 81% more geranium and 66% more zinnia flowers! Selected nutrients
help annuals produce spectacular color all season long. Great for rejuvenating
perennials, too! 3 lb bag.
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