Renee's Garden - Fragrant Four O’Clocks bloom in the afternoons and early evenings at midsummer, releasing a soft jasmine fragrance that floats on summer breezes. This hard-to-find heirloom variety offers 2-inch trumpet-shaped blossoms in a shade matching the color of perfectly ripe peaches. Plant these lovely, easy-to-grow, branching flowers where you sit or walk to enjoy their delicious perfume just when other flowers begin to languish in the heat. Hummingbirds love to visit these flowers.
Characteristics:
Heirloom Selective
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 3 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 seedlings to 10 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 easily and quickly to fill in borders or open areas. When possible, plant them close by where you walk or sit, so you can enjoy their delicious soft perfume that wafts in the air on sultry warm summer afternoons and evenings. In Mild Climates, Four O’Clocks self-sow readily, so remove seed pods before seeds fall to the ground if you don’t want plants to spread around the garden.
- Plant in May-June for cold winters; April-June for mild winters
- Full sun
- Sow seeds 4-5" apart; 1/2" deep
- 7-10 days to germinate
- Mature height: 3-3.5 feet
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
