Alba Four O'clock is a pure white flowering heirloom variety of Mirabilis jalapa that brings delicate, fragrant blooms to summer and fall gardens across zones 8 and warmer. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall, this drought-tolerant perennial flowers reliably within 84 days from seed, rewarding gardeners with blooms from June through November. Its name captures the plant's charming habit of opening its tubular flowers in late afternoon, creating an evening spectacle that attracts pollinators and deer-resistant beauty to any sunny garden bed.
1
Full Sun
Moderate
8-8
36in H x 24in W
—
High
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Pure white blooms open reliably in the late afternoon and evening hours, releasing a subtle fragrance that intensifies as the sun sets. The plant's large tuberose roots give it remarkable drought tolerance once established, yet it responds to regular watering with even more prolific flowering. This heirloom performs best in full sun and handles the heat and humidity of summer with grace, continuing to produce flowers well into autumn's cooler nights.
Alba Four O'clock is grown primarily as an ornamental flowering plant that brings evening interest to gardens. Its afternoon and evening blooms are particularly suited to cottage gardens, evening viewing gardens, and pollinator beds where its nectar-rich flowers can attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant's long blooming season makes it valuable for extending color into fall when many other garden flowers fade.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors in pots 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, keeping the soil at 70°F to encourage germination within 5 to 30 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 1 week after your last spring frost once they have hardened off and soil conditions have warmed.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 1 week after your last spring frost, which is the recommended approach for this variety.
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