Renee's Garden - Four O’Clocks start flowering at midsummer, releasing a soft jasmine fragrance that floats on summer breezes. Broken Colors is a special variety of these easy-to-grow, branching flowers, whose starry 2-inch trumpet-shaped blossoms are beautifully splashed with contrasting colors. The visual effect is both arresting and lovely. Plant Four O’Clocks where you sit or walk to enjoy their delicious perfume just when other flowers begin to languish in the heat.
Characteristics:
Heirloom Selective
Butterfly & Hummingbird favorites
Pollinators & Beneficials
Summer/Fall bloom
Frost tender
Instructions - To start outdoors, Plant in full sun in ordinary garden soil when spring weather is warm and settled and all danger of frost is past. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 5 inches apart. Firm soil over seeds. Keep moist until germination in 10 to 12 days.
To start early indoors, Seeds can be started indoors about 4 weeks before the last expected frost, but since Four O’Clocks grow so quickly, we advise sowing directly into the garden in all but very short summer areas. Thin or transplant seedlings 12 inches apart when they are large enough to handle so plants have ample room to grow and mature.
Vigorous, free-blooming Four O’Clocks grow quickly and will effortlessly fill in borders or large open areas to bloom in the afternoons and evenings beginning in mid-summer. If possible, plant Broken Colors close to where you pass by often, so you can enjoy their delicious soft perfume that fills the air. In mild winter climates, Four O’Clocks self-sow readily, so remove the seed pods before seeds fall to the ground if you don’t want plants to spread around the garden.
- Plant in March-June
- Full Sun or light shade
- Plant 1/2" deep
- Space 4-5" apart
- 10-12 days to germinate
- Mature height: 2-3 feet
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
