did you know?

Also called marvel-of-Peru, four-o'-clock opens in the late afternoon on sunny days, greeting you at tea time. These tropical natives were brought to Europe in the 16th century by conquistadors returning from South America. Early European settlers brought them to North America a century later.

general maintenance:

Deadhead daily, and remove discolored foliage to maintain a tidy appearance. Where hardy, mulch in winter. In Zones 7 and colder, dig up tubers in fall (after frost blackens foliage), and store in boxes of sand or peat in a cool, frost-free location.

pests/diseases:

Leaf spot may occur.

controls:

To control leaf spot, remove infected leaves or severely diseased plants and reduce soil moisture.

how to sow/plant:

Plant in spring. Sow indoors 3?5 weeks before last frost, lightly covering seeds with soil. Transplant outdoors 6 weeks after seedlings emerge. Choose a sunny site with moist, well-drained soil, and amend with compost or well-rotted manure. Set plants at the same depth they were in pot, spacing them at a distance equal to their mature spread. Water after planting, and mulch to conserve moisture. Or direct sow after danger of frost has passed.

water and fertilize:

Maintain uniform moisture all season. Apply a balanced, soluble fertilizer weekly, following label directions.

garden hint:

To speed germination, soak seeds overnight in warm water before planting.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Fragrant
• Night Blooming

garden uses:

• Containers
• Flowerbed borders

other uses:

• Cut Flower

combine with:

flowering tobacco globe amaranth ( 'Strawberry Fields'), strawflower and cosmos.