FOUR O CLOCK FLOWERS

Mirabilis jalapa, commonly called four o'clock flowers, grow into 2-foot-tall bushy plants that produce an abundance of red, pink, yellow or white flowers. These low-maintenance perennials attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds, making them a suitable addition to borders and butterfly gardens. Four o'clocks grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, but you can grow them as annuals in cooler climates. The germinate quickly from seed started indoors and flower profusely in their first year.

These plants can be sown directly in the garden in the spring once the danger of frost has passed.

Soak the seeds overnight in water. Then, plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep in your garden soil. You also can start seeds indoors roughly six to eight weeks prior to your area's projected last frost date. Plant them in a seed-starting mix about 1/4 inch deep, and place them by a light source. Keep the soil moist but not soggy as you wait for seedlings to appear

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