I've grown M. jalapa on occasion.

For at least 10 years now, I've had M. longiflora ("sweet four o'clock") return as a perennial in an unprotected location (though it's said to be hardy only in zones 7-10). It emerges late here (typically June), blooms till frost. I've seen one online nursery describe the blooms as "exquisitely fragrant" - but to me there's a delicate fragrance vaguely suggestive of some kind of indoor cleaner (still nice though). It forms a huge underground tuber and is very tough and drought-resistant.

http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1642/mirabilis-longiflora-sweet-four-oclock/

do you have the splashed yellow/red/pink one... i might ask for some seed ...

and for others.. it is perennial in warmer climes...

also known as the star of peru ...

i have them near my porch where i sit at night.. they open.. get this.. at 4 oclock.. and are heavily scented.. in the evening... when i sit on the porch ...

its just that i cant find where i stored my seed.. lol ... and apparently they didnt over winter on the ground in a z4 winter.. like they used to in z5 ...

oh.. you are canada... lets just not deal with the authorities.. thanks for the offer... lol ...

ken

ps: you did offer.. didnt you .. lol...

Ken, if I had the multi colored pink/yellow/red I would drive them to you!

lol ...

for those who dont know what we are talking about.. see link ...

ken

https://www.google.com/search?q=splashed+4+o%27clocks&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIj4elv8SIxwIVCooNCh1YGAmh&biw=869&bih=745&dpr=0.9

Ken, here is my best specimen from a few years back:

large multi colored 4 o'clock

That looks great! I love these too, always have.

As far as perennial plants go, a 4'o'clock plant has the most amazing story of any of my plants. In 1994, in OH Z5, I scattered some seeds and a few came up. The next year, one was back, having survived winter from being against the basement wall, facing west. A couple yrs later, I moved & dug it up to keep in a pot. It was about the size & shape of a football! I put its' pot in the basement for winter, for a couple yrs. Then my Mom moved to AL & I let her have it because it's hardy in AL. A few yrs after I'd also moved to AL, I "rescued it" from too much shade in her yard to more sun in mine. Then I moved last spring (and there were no beds at first,) so I dug it back up to put back in her yard (in decent sun.) In the spring, I'm going to dig it up again & bring it to my yard. This is definitely my most well-traveled plant. It's a medium pink color.

Here's mine, in a larger planter on the deck.

Great minds think alike 'donna' ;).

Given that our 4 o'clock is in a container is it possible to save the tuber for next season by simply bringing in the pot in the Fall, leaving the tuber in the potting soil all winter OR does one need to remove the tuber and store it another way?

Yes, you could bring it in and store dormant (as I described above) or near a really sunny window.

Nice subject to post, rouge. I had forgotten all about 4 o'clocks. I haven't grown them in years, but I had them at one time and they are reliable as any plant I've dealt with (at least here in Oklahoma, where they are perennial). I got them from my mother-in-law, who always had lots of them every year. I planted mine in a whole lot of shade, where they still bloomed very well, but I'm sure they would have done even better in more sun. Back when I had them I didn't really appreciate them enough - I was always wishing they would stay in bloom all day long. They always opened up religiously at 4PM every day. However, your bringing this plant to my attention again makes me view them with a better appreciation. And actually, I must admit they were pretty nice looking even with the buds closed earlier in the day. Never thought about using them as a container plant. Thanks for mentioning them now. I'm going to be keeping them in mind.

Sorry Tiffany...I missed your post completely.