Salmon Sunset Four O'clock is a tender perennial in the Nyctaginaceae family, prized for its sophisticated salmon-colored trumpet flowers with pale pink star centers that bloom reliably from summer through fall. Also known as Marvel of Peru, this heirloom variety reaches 24 to 36 inches tall and produces flowers approximately 84 days from seed to bloom. Hardy in zones 8 and warmer, it's both drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, thriving in full sun with moderate water and blooming until frost arrives.
12
Full Sun
Moderate
8-8
36in H x 24in W
—
High
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The true draw here is the flower itself: salmon-colored trumpets with pale pink star centers offer a color combination rarely seen in summer gardens, sophisticated enough to anchor a border yet cheerful enough for cottage gardens. These plants bloom prolifically from June through November, continuing long after many annuals have faded, and the large tuberose roots that fuel this extended flowering season also make them naturally drought-tolerant once established. Deer leave them alone, pollinators love them, and in some southern climates they'll even survive winter as dormant roots ready to regrow the following spring.
Salmon Sunset Four O'clock is grown primarily as an ornamental flower for garden beds, borders, and containers, valued for its long blooming season and sophisticated color. Gardeners use it to add late-season color when many other flowers begin to fade, and its pollinator-attracting flowers make it a functional choice for supporting bee and butterfly populations in the garden.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, keeping soil at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds will sprout in 5 to 14 days depending on conditions and should be kept warm and consistently moist during germination.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last spring frost when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures remain above 60 degrees. Harden off plants gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting in the garden.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 1 week after your last spring frost, or sow indoors in pots 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Recommended direct sowing is outdoors after soil has warmed adequately.
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“Mirabilis jalapa, commonly called Marvel of Peru, has been cultivated for centuries and brought to European gardens from tropical regions where it grows as a true perennial. The Salmon Sunset cultivar represents generations of selection for this particular flower color and form, preserved and shared through the heirloom seed saving community. Its journey from tropical origins to northern gardens speaks to gardeners' endless quest to extend beauty and color into their growing seasons, and its status as an heirloom variety means it can be saved from seed year to year, connecting today's growers to seed savers of the past.”