I want one! The flowers are often variegated and can change colour apparently, usually opening in the afternoon, hence the name. Didn't realise it was a fat plant tho, now I REALLY want one!

Purple, Cool! Growing 4'o'clock as a fat plant..
I Googled mirablis plant, then clicked on pictures.

First, I had no idea Mirablis had such beautiful bi-multi-colored blooms..Did you?

My outdoor Mirablis are red, orange and yellow.. Common colors.

Never thought about growing one indoors..Wonder if it's too late to dig tubers?
You plant enhancer..lol.

Your/your moms 4'O'clock's has certainly made its rounds.

Yes, they are sun lovers..My guys do well, 'south and west light/outdoors,' but would do better if the neighbors' house wasn't built. They gotta go..neighbors not my plants..lol.

Are you going to experiment, grow indoors? If you do, you really must keep us informed on its progress.
Very interesting topic.

On Google, you'll find a Mirabilis bonsai..

I've had them in all colors you mentioned, and sometimes you'll get a plant that makes windowpane/variegated flowers. This plant has light pink flowers.

Larry, I've not heard of the flowers changing colors. Would suspect someone had a seedling sprout near the mama that looked like one plant but with diff flowers. You never know what you'll get from any particular seed, no matter what mama plant it came from.

Don't feel like I'm in a position to experiment yet, but may be persuaded otherwise, if someone experienced encourages such over wintering in the ground. Wish me luck that there IS progress to update on!!

Purple, I read it on the wiki, it may or may not be true but it seems they can spontaneously change flower colour one year, then again the following year!

It's back!

Awesome!!! :)

I wish ive started the seeds of my mirrabilis sooner. Im growing mirabilis longiflora

Awesome! I got turned on to 4'o'clocks at our last rent house, where our neighbor had them planted along our shared fenceline & they each grew quickly into 4'-5' bushes that flowered & flowered. Hers were multicolored: some orange, some yellow, some pink, some red, some more purple. I fell in love with them, they're much like my other loves outside: morning glories & moonflowers. Predictable, every day bloomers that attract hummingbirds & butterflies & all sorts of good stuff to watch.

I'd only ever seen small 4'o'clocks grown in containers & had no idea they got that large. I did not know they were tubers, but that makes sense b/c hers died back every winter & popped back up every spring. When we moved to our new place, I took it upon myself to go buy a dozen packets of mixed color 4'o'clock seeds & plant them. Mine are just now coming up & I'm super excited to see them mature & bloom this summer. If this Oklahoma bipolar spring weather doesn't kill them first, that is. :-/ I'm notorious for planting too early & having a few frosts on my seedlings popping up. But this year, we're scheduled for our last frost May 2nd & possibly May 3rd. Ridiculousness!

Purple, I just love reading your wealth of knowledge & checking out your beautiful pictures. You are certainly on your way to becoming one of my favorite people on these forums! Keep it coming, I love it! :)

I'd like to try that one! Hope it does well for you.

It's funny, the seeds sprouting in the beds are coming up at the same time as the plants that over-wintered, about a week ago here, so I'd say you're not behind at all unless you would have wanted to try to coddle them under lights for a few weeks.

Glad others have showed back up. I would prefer to use another not-so-sentimental plant for potted fat plant experimentation.

Hey, Faery, we were typing at the same time. Thanks for your kind words! I keep buying more seeds too.

Hoping frost doesn't zap your seedlings also!

Sounds like you might enjoy butterfly bushes and/or Lantana. Ever let your basil make flowers?

Purple, I don't do the whole coddle under lights thing. I sow them in the ground & then stress about the weather, LOL. I even waited longer than usual this spring & yet, the Oklahoma weather is wreaking havoc upon things still. I don't remember the last May frost we had...April is anyone's guess what's going to happen in Oklahoma (rain, hail, damaging wind, tornadoes, snow, frost, sleet, it just never gets boring!), but May? I'm praying this is a sign that the upcoming summer will be a bit cooler than the last 2 summers here of 110+ degree days for 3 months straight. That was miserable & expensive on utilities.

So far, my seedlings coming up have weathered out 4 frosts. Most of them are coming through like troopers. I'm really hoping that we don't frost again, but if we do, hopefully they'll hold out for me. I have never had a butterfly bush or Lantana. My mom has a whole bed of Lantana & it's pretty. And I haven't ever let my basil flower! Don't think I've ever seen a basil flower, come to think of it. Sounds interesting.

Basil flowers come in long spires similsr to salvia. They attract pollinators. BEWARE, bASIL STOPS LEAF PRODUCTION AND THEN DIE WHEN IT FLOWERS

If you like having butterflies visit your yard, few things are more attractive to them than Lantana. If your Mom wouldn't mind, take some cuttings from her plants and literally just stick them in the ground. Water every few days if it doesn't rain. I just added pics including a Lantana cutting from last year that's growing back nicely this spring, in this discussion. Butterfly bushes (Buddleia) are just as easy to multiply, but somebody has to have one to get started. Easy to find in stores, inexpensive, or through trading. Of course BF's like butterfly bushes, HA!

Basil flowers are beloved by BF's and bees. If you have a little patch of ground to scatter some basil seeds, they should have plenty of time to make flowers this year. Then, of course, the leaves are yummy. The flowers are white, so don't clash with anything, not that exciting visually, but I've seen hummingbirds visiting them also. That gets it a prized spot in my opinion.

That's really cool your sprouts survived some frosts! Has anyone else noticed, the seed sprouts are all plain green, top and bottom. The plants coming back from previous years' tubers have red on the back of their leaves. I was very intrigued by the first one I saw in the back yard because I didn't recognize it at first, but could tell it was growth, not a sprout, and there were no weeds there to be growing back. Never know what could creep over from the abandoned yard next door though.

TG, where did you get that completely wrong info? Don't read that source anymore. Basil is not a true annual at all. Regardless, the definition of a true annual is that it dies after making seeds, not flowers.

I would like to know which colors are fragrant, I have some that don't have any scent and only want to plant the fragrant four o'clocks. Please describeâÂÂ¥

I would like to know which colors are fragrant, I have some that don't have any scent and only want to plant the fragrant four o'clocks. Please describeâÂÂ¥

IME, the scent is not related to the color. You may want to ask on the fragrant forum also, interesting question. It would be easy to pull the non-fragrant ones from a patch though, once your plants start blooming (if not already doing so.)

You gals and guys got me thinking which color is fragrant or more fragrant.

My 4'o'clocks are growing but haven't started budding or blooming..As soon as they flower I'm going to sniff each bloom.

They are fragrant though. When dh sits on the couch watching tv, he says something smells good. It's definately the Miabilis. They're directly below windows.

I'd like to find a bi-color, fragrant type. There's enough space between Mirabilis and the next perennial to plant a dozen or so.

Here's the update I promised on this tuber. While most of the other plants have been blooming for a few weeks, no sign of buds on this yet, but it's a nice size already...

{{gwi:106046}}

This is blooming well, caught the flowers open early this morning. Still smells heavenly like I remember! I'll get a pic of as much of the tuber as I can soon, doubtful I'll dig it up at this point, but might, IDK. So many other things *have* to come in...

FWIW, there's also red, other pink, and red blooming from recently bought seeds. None of them are fragrant!

{{!gwi}}

Not only is this individual old plant much more fragrant than a few other late-bloomer plants (which would be spawn of the recently-bought seed ones that bloomed last year,) it's the only one that hasn't been attacked by something that I'm pretty sure is army worms. Could just be luck of the draw, but I'm starting to wonder if there's just a bunch of dud seeds around. IMO, this plant needs scent to be garden- or pot-worthy, sentimental old tubers notwithstanding.