SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Mirabilis nyctaginea

Wild Four O'Clock

$3.00 - $10.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$6.25
1/4 oz.
$10.00

The genus name, Mirabilis, means marvelous in Latin. Wild Four O'Clock is common in disturbed areas, especially those with poor soils like gravel or clay of roadsides, ditches, railroad tracks and even urban alleys. This easy-to-grow, perennial re-seeds itself readily, but in fertile soil, the Wild Four O’Clock is often outcompeted by its neighbors.  It is native to the north and central US states and adventive in the far Eastern states. In the summer the range of pale pink to deep magenta flowers start to open late-afternoon (guess what time - 4:00!), remain open all night to be pollinated by various insects and even Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, and close in the morning.  It is a nice larval host to the White-lined Sphinx Moth.  Its flowers are trumpet- or horn-shaped, about half an inch across. Deer typically avoid this plant. The roots and seed are poisonous. The dark green, large leaves are very showy, as is the seeding period (see photos).

Mirabilis nyctaginea - Wild Four O'Clock

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

3 Questions asked on Mirabilis nyctaginea

In the mid-Atlantic the four o’clocks never have any colored flower petals. They go straight from green bracts to seeds. Is this normal?
Thanks for your question, Jeremy. Flowers in the Mirabilis genus are inconspicuous and fleeting. They will open around 4:00pm and close by the next morning. As you can see in the last two pictures on our species page, the pale green bracts are a much more prevalent sight than the short lived flowers. There are some natural color morphs of this species with yellow flowers. In addition, there are other Mirabilis species with much paler flowers. These species are native to the Western US, but can naturalize further east. If seeds are being formed, there must be a flower structure at some point in the season!
When should we plant these seeds, after last frost? I am assuming they should be direct seeded.
Hi Jojo, To plant this species, it can be as simple as sowing seed outdoors, on a prepared site, in the springtime after your last frost. Note the Germination Code: A.

You can attempt to grow this indoors too, but it will take a bit more skill and attention compared to letting Mother Nature do the work for you.

How fast do these plants grow? Will they bloom the second year when started from seed?
Hi Dan, This species is a relatively fast-growing perennial that likes disturbed sites and even poor soils, so it’s very likely that some plants will bloom during the second year under these conditions.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

US Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
75
Seeds/Ounce
3,500
Germination Code
A
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full
Soil Moisture
Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Height
4 feet
Bloom Time
June, July, August, September
Bloom Color
Purple
Advantages
Deer Resistant
USDA Zones
3-10
Plant Spacing
18-24"
Catalog Code
MIR01F