Four O’Clock Mirabilis Jalapa Marbles Yellow Red Seeds – 200 Seeds – Fragrant

Overview

Transform your garden with these captivating Four O’Clock Mirabilis Jalapa seeds. Also known as Mirabilis Jalapa, this ‘Marbles Yellow Red’ variety offers a modern twist on a beloved classic. Each seed promises to grow into a vigorous plant producing an abundance of soft orange-yellow flowers beautifully flecked and striped with carmine red. These enchanting blooms are not only visually striking but also release a delightful fragrance, particularly as they open in the late afternoon, hence their common name, Four O’Clock. Ideal for creating a vibrant, aromatic display, these annuals are easy to cultivate and provide continuous color until the first frost, making them a must-have for any garden enthusiast.

Originating from the United States, this particular strain of Mirabilis Jalapa Marbles Yellow Red is renowned for its unique bi-coloration and robust growth. The bushy plants typically reach a height of 24 to 36 inches, making them suitable for various garden applications, from mass plantings to mixed borders and large containers. Their ability to thrive in a range of conditions and their continuous flowering habit ensure a long season of enjoyment. Experience the magic of these exquisite flowers that bring both visual charm and a sweet perfume to your outdoor space, attracting pollinators and delighting onlookers.

Key Benefits

These fragrant Four O’Clock flowers offer a multitude of advantages for gardeners seeking beauty and ease of care. Their unique characteristics make them a standout choice for adding vibrant color and a pleasant aroma to any landscape.

• Stunning Bi-Color Blooms: Enjoy the unique and eye-catching soft orange-yellow flowers adorned with beautiful carmine red flecks and stripes, providing a distinctive visual appeal that sets them apart from traditional Four O’Clocks.
• Delightful Evening Fragrance: As their name suggests, these flowers open in the late afternoon, releasing a sweet, pleasant fragrance that enhances your evening garden experience and attracts beneficial pollinators.
• Vigorous and Bushy Growth: The plants grow to a robust 24-36 inches tall, forming a bushy habit that fills garden spaces effectively and creates a lush, full appearance.
• Extended Bloom Season: From midsummer until the first hard frost, these plants provide a continuous display of colorful flowers, ensuring long-lasting beauty and interest in your garden.
• Easy to Grow from Seed:Growing Mirabilis Jalapa from these seeds is straightforward, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners looking for reliable performance.
• Versatile Garden Use: Perfect for creating colorful borders, adding height to mixed flower beds, or thriving in large containers, offering flexibility in garden design.
• Attracts Pollinators: The fragrant blooms are a magnet for various pollinators, including moths and other nocturnal insects, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of Four O’Clock Mirabilis Jalapa seeds begins with proper planting and ongoing care. These resilient plants are relatively low-maintenance but benefit from specific conditions to reach their full potential. For optimal growth, sow seeds directly into the garden after the last danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade, ideally with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best flowering performance. While tolerant of various soil types, they thrive in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Incorporate compost or aged manure into the planting area to improve fertility and drainage before sowing.

Watering is crucial, especially during dry spells and the plant’s establishment phase. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. Once established, these plants exhibit good drought tolerance, but regular watering will encourage more prolific blooming. Fertilize sparingly; a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer applied once or twice during the growing season is usually sufficient. Over-fertilization can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Deadheading spent blooms is not strictly necessary as they are self-cleaning, but it can help maintain a tidy appearance and potentially encourage more flowers. These plants are generally pest and disease resistant, making growing Mirabilis Jalapa a relatively trouble-free experience. Protect from early frosts to prolong the bloom season.

In colder climates, Yellow Red Four O’Clock plants are typically grown as annuals. However, in warmer regions (USDA Zones 7-10), the tuberous roots can be dug up before the first hard frost, stored in a cool, dry, dark place over winter, and replanted in spring, much like dahlias. Ensure good air circulation during storage to prevent mold. For those in regions where they are perennial, they will readily self-seed, often returning year after year. Maintain good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid conditions. Consistent care will reward you with a continuous display of these unique and fragrant flowers.

Size & Details

This offering includes a generous quantity of Four O’Clock Mirabilis Jalapa seeds, allowing you to cultivate a vibrant and extensive display in your garden. Each seed packet contains 200 high-quality seeds, ensuring a robust start to your gardening project. The resulting plants are known for their bushy and vigorous growth habit, typically reaching a mature height of 24 to 36 inches (approximately 60-90 cm). The spread can be similar, creating a full and rounded form that is excellent for filling garden beds or providing a lush backdrop.

These seeds will produce plants that begin to bloom in midsummer, approximately 8-10 weeks after sowing, and continue to flower profusely until the first hard frost. The unique soft orange-yellow flowers with carmine red flecks measure about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. They are shipped as dry seeds, ready for planting directly into your garden. With their relatively fast growth rate and prolonged flowering period, these Yellow Red Four O’Clock plants offer exceptional value and beauty throughout the warm seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Four O’Clock Mirabilis Jalapa seeds will grow into plants that typically reach a bushy height of 24 to 36 inches (2-3 feet) with a similar spread, creating a substantial presence in your garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While they can be started indoors, these plants are primarily grown as outdoor annuals in most climates, thriving in garden beds, borders, or large outdoor containers.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For the best flowering performance, these plants prefer full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily) but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter climates.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, growing Mirabilis Jalapa is considered easy. They are low-maintenance plants that are forgiving of various soil conditions and are generally pest and disease resistant.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive 200 dry seeds, carefully packaged to ensure their viability and readiness for planting.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Plants grown from these fragrant Four O’Clock flowers seeds typically begin to bloom in midsummer, approximately 8-10 weeks after sowing, and continue until frost.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to sow these seeds directly outdoors is after the last danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed, usually in late spring or early summer.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: In most regions, these are grown as annuals. However, in USDA Zones 7-10, the tuberous roots can be overwintered indoors or the plants may self-seed.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: These plants thrive in well-draining soil, ideally enriched with organic matter, but are adaptable to a range of soil types.
• Q: What is special about the ‘Marbles Yellow Red’ variety? A: The ‘Marbles Yellow Red’ variety of Yellow Red Four O’Clock is unique for its soft orange-yellow flowers that are intricately flecked and striped with carmine red, offering a distinct and beautiful marbled appearance.