Marbles Mix Four O'clock is a delightful heirloom flower that earns its name honestly: blooms reliably unfurl in late afternoon and close by morning, creating a daily show of color from June through November. This cultivar of Mirabilis jalapa grows 24 to 36 inches tall and wide, producing a bushy mound adorned with striped, blotched, or solid flowers in jewel tones that pollinators find irresistible. Hardy in zone 8, it thrives in full sun on moderate water and requires just 84 days from seed to first bloom, making it achievable even for gardeners starting from scratch.
1
Full Sun
Moderate
8-8
36in H x 24in W
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High
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Butterflies and hummingbirds visit these flowers in afternoon waves, drawn to the fragrance and nectar that intensify as the day cools. The marble-like variegation in the blooms means no two flowers look identical, giving each plant a painterly quality. Drought-tolerant and pest-resistant, with only occasional aphid or Japanese beetle pressures that respond to simple tactics, this is a low-fuss flower that deer reliably leave alone.
Marbles Mix Four O'clock is grown primarily as an ornamental flowering plant, valued in summer and fall gardens for its afternoon and evening color display. The blooms attract pollinators and create a focal point in beds, borders, and containers where their open-and-close rhythm becomes part of the daily garden rhythm.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors in pots 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, keeping soil temperature at 70°F. Seeds are slow to germinate, so expect sprouting between 5 and 30 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off, timing it for 1 week after your last spring frost date.
Direct sow is recommended where practical. Plant seeds outdoors 1 week after your last spring frost date.
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