The Four O’Clock flower, also known as Mirabilis jalapa, offers vibrant late-afternoon color and fragrant evenings. This guide highlights five well-suited seed choices for American gardens, covering varieties in solid red, mixed colors, and white tones. Each option includes easy-growing habits, pollinator appeal, and practical notes for garden beds, containers, or borders. Read on to compare growth, bloom timing, and wildlife-friendly features to help you choose seeds that align with your climate and gardening style.
| Product | Color Range | Growth Habit | Pollinator Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed Needs Red Four O’Clock Seeds | Red | Annual in temperate zones; tender perennial in warmth | Hummingbirds and butterflies attractors |
| Four O’Clock Mixed Colors Blend | Pink, Red, White, Yellow, Rose | Thrives in a variety of soils; easy to grow | Attracts pollinators and fragrance |
| Seed Needs Four O Clock Mixed Flowers | Yellow, White, Red, Pink, Rose | Annual in most US regions; tender perennial in warm areas | Supports butterflies and bees |
| Outsidepride Mixed Four O’clock Seeds | Red, Pink, Yellow, White, Striped | Perennial in zones 8–10; annual elsewhere | Hummingbirds, moths, butterflies |
| Seed Needs White Four O Clock Seeds | White | Tender perennial in warmth; annual elsewhere | Pollinators with evening fragrance |
Seed Needs Red Four O’Clock Seeds
Seed Needs Red Four O’Clock Seeds produce vibrant, true red blooms that open in late afternoon, delivering a dramatic evening display. Easy to grow in USDA Zones 9–11, these seeds perform best as annuals in cooler climates and can be treated as tender perennials where winters are mild. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and moths, making them well-suited for wildlife gardens and pollinator-friendly beds.
Four O’Clock Mixed Colors Blend
This large 1-ounce packet contains over 300 live seeds, offering a spectrum of colors—pink, red, white, yellow, and rose. The Four O’Clock Blend opens toward dusk, adding color and fragrance to late-afternoon and evening garden hours. It is easy to grow, tolerates various soils, and is ideal for containers or garden borders that benefit from low-maintenance color with a romantic atmosphere.
Seed Needs Four O Clock Seeds Mixed Flowers
This Seed Needs mix includes a variety of colors—yellow, white, red, pink, and rose—providing a versatile addition to summer borders. Mirabilis jalapa seeds are typically grown as annuals in cooler regions but can become tender perennials where warmth prevails. The blend supports butterfly activity and creates a long flowering window that persists throughout the season, with plants reaching 12–36 inches tall and spreading about 30 inches.
Outsidepride Mixed Four O’clock Seed
Outsidepride’s mix features fragrant, trumpeted blooms in red, pink, yellow, white, and striped varieties. Flowers open in late afternoon and stay fragrant into the evening, attracting hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies. The plants grow 18–36 inches tall and form a dense, shrub-like habit that suits borders, hedges, or containers. They perform well in full sun to partial shade and tolerate a range of soil types, making them a versatile addition to multiple climates.
Seed Needs White Four O Clock Seeds
White Four O’Clock seeds offer delicate, trumpet-shaped blooms with a late-afternoon opening and a gentle fragrance. These seeds perform as annuals in most regions, with potential as tender perennials in warmer climates. The long blooming period—from late spring through the first frost—creates evening interest for pollinators and night-time garden enjoyment, contributing a graceful contrast to darker-red or brightly colored companions.
Seed Needs Four O Clock Seeds Mixed Colors Annual Multicolored Blooms
This multicolored mix delivers over 300 seeds that yield a spectrum of 1–2 inch trumpet-shaped flowers all summer. The mix includes yellow, white, red, pink, and rose tones, ideal for creating pollinator-friendly beds and borders. Classed as annual in most climates but able to act as tender perennials where warmth persists, these seeds support a long season of color and insect activity in a single packet.
Burpee Kaleidoscope Mix Four O’Clock Seeds
The Kaleidoscope Mix from Burpee offers fragrant evening blooms in a kaleidoscope of colors. This open-pollinated, non-GMO selection supports high germination and robust performance, delivering a vigorous annual that reaches up to about three feet tall. The mix is well-suited for attracting pollinators while providing a striking visual display as daylight fades.
Four O’Clock Broken Colors (Multi) Seeds
This non-GMO, heirloom selection features a broken colors palette in a single packet, offering more than 100 seeds. Classified as annual, the plant typically begins growth in spring after frost danger and thrives in full sun. The broken-color trait creates a lively mix that can add interest to any evening garden, especially when paired with solid-color varieties.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
- Climate and Growing Season: Four O’Clock seeds are typically grown as annuals in cooler regions but can be treated as tender perennials in warm climates. Match seed type to your USDA zone for best results.
- Bloom Timing and Fragrance: Choose varieties that open in the late afternoon or evening if you want extended color into sunset hours and fragrance around patios.
- Color Palette and Garden Style: Mixed-color blends work well for border edges or pollinator-friendly beds, while single-color seeds suit cohesive garden schemes.
- Pollinator Support: All listed varieties support butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and moths, enhancing ecosystem health in your yard.
- Growth Habit and Space: Consider mature height (generally 12–36 inches) and spread (up to 30 inches) to plan appropriate spacing, containers, or borders.
- Seed Freshness and Germination: Some listings emphasize the freshest seeds or high germination rates—advantageous for achieving reliable germination in the first season.
- Open-Pollination and Heirloom Qualities: Heirloom and open-pollinated options promote genetic diversity and seed saving for future seasons where climate permits.