By Kim Willis These articles are copyrighted and may not be
copied or used without the permission of the author.
Four O’Clocks are native to South America, with Peru
probably the place Europeans discovered them.
They were moved all around the globe however because of their herbal
qualities and beautiful, strange flowers and have naturalized in many warmer
countries. They were being grown in
English gardens by the late 1500’s and used in Chinese medicine long before
that.
Four O’Clocks are perennial in zones 7b and above. In the north the tuberous roots of Four
O’Clocks can be dug and stored like dahlia bulbs. But since they also bloom quickly from seed
they can be treated like annuals in colder planting zones.
The
marvel of Four O’Clocks flowers
Let’s start with the beautiful, often fragrant flowers of
the Four O’Clock. The flowers seen are
actually formed by a colored, modified calyx, they don’t actually have petals,
though that piece of information is just some trivia for you, you won’t notice
the difference. This may be the reason
the flowers do their interesting color magic.
The flowers are long and trumpet shaped, flaring out to be about 1 ½
inches wide.
Four O’Clock flowers come in red, white, yellow and pink
and variegated. Now here’s the
interesting, magic thing. The flowers on
the same plant can be different colors, and plants may also change the color of
their flowers over time, with the plant having white flowers when it begins to
bloom and later in the season pink for example. When flowers are variegated-
more than one color, the variegation is usually unique to each flower. Variegation can be in streaks, blotches, or
the flower being half one color and half another. And the plant may produce variegated flowers
one month and solid the next.
Many but not all, Four O’Clock flowers have a pleasing
fragrance, a mixture of gardenia and orange blossom, on warm evenings. This, along with a bit of nectar, draws the
night flying sphinx moth and other moths to the plants for pollination. In my garden the white flowered Four O’Clocks
seem to be more strongly scented.
Four O’Clocks were named however, for another flower
attribute. They open up in the evening,
about four p.m. in most areas and close by about 11 am. This isn’t because of light changes, but
temperatures falling in the later part of the day. When it’s cool and cloudy flowers may remain
open all day. And while night flying
moths may be the best pollinator hummingbirds and day flying butterflies are
also attracted to the flowers when they are open. Four O’Clocks have been used
in “floral clocks.”
Other
plant parts
The leaves of Four O’Clocks are broad ovals and attached
opposite each other on the stem. Most
leaves are a medium green, and somewhat glossy but there are plants with
variegated foliage. Plants are usually
well branched and grow about 2 feet high.
They are evergreen in the warmest areas but may die to the ground in
other areas.
Four O’Clock plants have black tuberous roots shaped like
a thick carrot. In cold winter areas the tubers can be dug and stored inside
over the winter.
Four O’Clock flowers produce a single fruit with one
black wrinkled seed. All parts of the
plant have some use in either herbal medicine, cosmetics or as dye plants. There are some edible uses but caution has to
be used as too much of the plant can be toxic.
I would list the plant as mildly to very toxic depending on the plant
part and how it’s consumed. It’s not the
plant to grow for salad.
Growing
Four O’Clocks
I rarely see plants offered in nurseries so most gardeners
will generally start them from seed unless you can get some tubers from another
gardener. They grow easily from seed and
will flower the same year. Northern
gardeners, (7a and lower), would be better off starting the seed inside about 6
weeks before the last frost and transplanting outside after frost danger has
passed. Because they have a tap root,
start seeds individually in paper pots or peats pots so they are easily
transplanted. Four O’Clock seed can also be planted directly in the garden where
you want it to grow.
Four O’Clocks need full sun, although in very hot
climates they will do fairly well in partial shade. They aren’t fussy about soil. They can withstand some dry conditions but do
better with regular watering. The plants
have very few pests or diseases, aphids are sometimes a problem. Knock aphids off with a strong stream of
water. Four O’Clocks are seldom touched
by deer or rabbits.
In planting zones 7b-8a it might be a good idea to mulch
plants heavily in winter. In zones 7a and
lower the plant can be dug after a light frost.
Cut the foliage back to about an inch and let the tubers dry in a warm
shady place for a day or two. Then store
in a cool place above freezing packed in wood shavings. Plant outside in spring after frost danger
has passed.
Herbal
and other uses of Four O’Clocks
For those who like herbal medicine Four O’Clocks are a
gold mine. I do want to urge caution
with using this plant, especially when consuming it, as it can be quite
poisonous. Modern science has confirmed
that Mirabilis jalapa does have many
medicinal chemicals and many uses for the plant are being explored.
Root extracts of Mirabilis
jalapa have antiviral properties and a patent has been awarded for a
product that helps control tobacco mosaic virus and other plant viruses. In
herbal medicine the powdered root was used on injuries and abscesses. The powdered root was also baked into
cornbread and given to women with menstrual problems. Powdered root was also considered to be an
aphrodisiac. Root extracts also have
antifungal properties.
The roots also have some blood sugar lowering properties
and are being studied for use in the treatment of diabetes.
Four O’Clocks have been shown to have pain relieving and
antispasmodic properties and was often used for gastrointestinal problems such
as colic and diarrhea. Boiled leaves or leaf extracts are used for this and are
also used on painful wounds, for sprained or injured muscles and other
pain.
Leaves and stems have anthelmintic (worm killing properties). Leaf poultices were used to remove freckles
and skin spots. Leaves and roots are
also diuretics and emetics.
The flowers of Four O’Clocks are mashed and boiled to
make an edible red dye for foods and also to dye cloth.
Plants are used for bioremediation of soils,
they take up and store harmful chemicals.
Flowers are used in the production of gold nano particles also.
Here’s a resource for science based information on
medicinal qualities.
International Journal of Pharmacological Research
ISSN: 2277-3312 Journal DOI:10.7439/ijpr
IJPR Volume 6 Issue 05 (2016) 160
Caution- only people experienced in herbal medicines
should use Four O’Clocks in this way.
Pregnant women should not use it.
Do not eat Four O’Clocks despite some references claiming its edible
when boiled. This has resulted in some
serious poisoning cases.
Four O’Clocks are interesting flowers on their own merit
and you don’t have to have a medicinal use for them to enjoy them. Children are often fascinated by the changing
flowers. They are an excellent plant for low maintenance and cottage gardens.
Try some in your garden.
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