Does anyone know the name of this plant/flower?

Joseth Scott
by Joseth Scott
I have a few of these growing in different beds. They usually grow upright, but this one is growing low and is really speading out, (it is one plant) which I like as it covers the bald spot left by the deer family. It sends out three different color blossoms on the one plant, opens late afternoon until morning. Humming birds visit the pink blossoms
The head of the family
The head-ache of my garden
  45 answers
  • Looks like 4'oclocks.And if you want the scientific name I believe it is mirabilis jalapa. Each bloom will produce a seed. One day I will find some seeds and plant them. They have a smell and usually open up in the afternoon. the seeds are easy to collect. Happy gardening!
  • R.V.R. Farris R.V.R. Farris on Sep 03, 2013
    Yeah, 4'oclocks.
  • Joseth Scott Joseth Scott on Sep 03, 2013
    C Renee Fuller - Thanks so much, I thought it was just a weed taking over until I saw the three different color blossoms on the one plant. Yes, the seeds look like whole black-pepper grains I hope to be gardening happily next year now that I have installed a fence to keep out the deer
  • Alisa W Alisa W on Sep 04, 2013
    I have 10 acres and deer have forced me to plant almost everything inside our very small fenced back yard. It really is frustrating...the sad thing is that the fence won't keep the armadillo out so I still have my flowers getting dug up. I do try to look for deer resistant flower and plants but sometimes even those get eaten. Joseth...that 4 o'clock can be very hard to get rid of once it's taken over so be careful with it.
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    • Alisa W Alisa W on Sep 05, 2013
      Well, I won't be eating any armadillos..LOL..too greasy... I rarely see one as they seem to come in the middle of the night. I can always tell in the morning when they've been there. I need to get out my ammonia spray bottle and spray around the flower beds again..that seemed to help but we've had rain lately.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Sep 04, 2013
    A good thing about four o'clocks: they attract Japanese beetles, but are toxic to them. So if you plant them away from your other plants, they can make a good natural defense against Japanese beetles.
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    • Judy Judy on Sep 06, 2013
      @Douglas Hunt Well ya learn & ya pass it on....I didn't learn it from anyone but you so you get the credit after all.....lol
  • Melody Melody on Sep 04, 2013
    They grow and reseed quite easily here in East Texas and are really nice if you have a dedicated place for them. If they come up in an unwanted spot make sure you pull them out while they are young as they will make a huge tuber that has to be dug out if left to mature.
  • Joseth Scott Joseth Scott on Sep 04, 2013
    Alisa W - thanks so much. At least I knowif its even one person feels my pain :) No sooner am I rid of the deer than something is eating all my tomatoes. I definitely will have to be diligent with pulling those new plants as you can tell I'm going to have a lot of seeds. Have you ever seen the root of the mature plant? Its humongous!!!
  • Joseth Scott Joseth Scott on Sep 04, 2013
    Well Douglas, that is good to know!!! thanks so much because earlier in the season I had an invasion of beetles, and I notice I haven't been seeing them lately:) Well, who would have thunk it!!! You live and laern. Thanks:)
  • Joseth Scott Joseth Scott on Sep 04, 2013
    Melody - Thanks, I learnt that the hard way. There was one growing in the pot with my Rose of Sharon that has been doing so well since it is no longer being attacked by the deer. Tried pulling it out but it broke off & is coming back bigger. Did the same with one growing next to a Climbing Rose but this time decided to dig it up insted. I could not believe the root on it!!!! I definitely will have to pull any young plant I see coming up. Thanks again:)
  • Lois Lois on Sep 05, 2013
    the roots/tubers, can be dug up and stored over the winter in a cool dark spot, just like cannas or dahlias. Planted in the spring, they then come back as a larger plant than the year before. Since they do grow so easily from seed, I just do that. :)
  • Lynn Alexander Lynn Alexander on Sep 05, 2013
    I have these in fuchia and they eep mulitplying due to the seeds dropping. They will come back year after year. Very hardy
  • Becky Lambert Becky Lambert on Sep 05, 2013
    4 o Clocks will re grow ecery year and re seed themselves. Wonderful flower and you can gather seeds and spread them anywhere you need some new flowers.
  • Four o'clocks. I planted some in a contained planter this year and I love them.
  • Suzette Trimmer Suzette Trimmer on Sep 05, 2013
    Definite Four O'clock s. Fabulous self seeder which will spread every where and anywhere. I live in Zone 6B and I used to take out and kept in shredded paper. But last couple of years I have left them in their containers. To my sheer shock there so many that the roots actually burst through and cracked thick heavy ceramanic material. The dirt was packed harder then anything I'd ever seen. Soaked the root base and then easily replanted in new location.I have sold their dark black seeds for good money. They are wonderfully fragrant and the sheer beauty of blooming as all others close up for day they wake up flowers 24/7.
  • Becca Becca on Sep 05, 2013
    You can plant Oleanders anywhere in your yard. They are toxic & the deer won't touch them. They also stay away from anything with fuzzy leaves. They won't eat dwarf Gardenias and most of the time avoid Camellias.
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    • Becca Becca on Mar 24, 2015
      @Alisa W Glad you were able to save your Mandevillas. You can google 'deer resistant plants' and gets tons of ideas. However, I've seen then come right up to the front porch steps and eat camellias so you can't guarantee. It depends on what's available for them and how bad the weather might be.
  • P P on Sep 05, 2013
    They look like 4 o'clocks. They come in a variety of colors and it is easy to collect their seeds or just let them self-seed. My dad had them and they were gorgeous! I have not yet put them in my landscaping but they will be in the future.
  • June June on Sep 05, 2013
    What a nostalgic picture. Four o'clocks! My Dad planted them every year and I loved them too. I'm going to get some seed for next year; I'd forgotten all about them. thanks for the inquiry!
  • Peg Peg on Sep 05, 2013
    I planted them for the first time this year. What a nice variety of colors! I'll look forward to seeing if they reseed.
  • Glenna Kennedy Glenna Kennedy on Sep 05, 2013
    You can try a remedy for deer that we used to use on newly planted apple trees. We'd go to one of the local hair salons and bribe them to let us have some hair (apparently its not really legal for them to do so) lol. We cut squares of pantyhose and stuffed them with human hair and hung them around the perimeter of the field. It worked although you have to redo them a few times over the season because rain washes the human scent away. Another trick my Mom used to use was smelly talcum powder. Go to the dollar store and buy the smelliest talc you can buy and sprinkle that on or around your flowers..works for bunnies too.
  • Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz on Sep 05, 2013
    Can anyone tell me if they grow in shade? And do they need something to climb on?
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    • Suzette Trimmer Suzette Trimmer on Sep 09, 2013
      @Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz No they do not climb need no support unless they do not receive enough water. When it coms to watering these fabulous flowers there can never be too Much Water....if they drupe they need water ASAP! And they do far better in Full sun then any shade, from my experience.
  • June June on Sep 06, 2013
    We had them on the west side of our house with no shade at all. They did not need anything to climb on. That was in the Midwest & the sun was hot!
  • Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz on Sep 06, 2013
    Thank you Mr. Hunt.
  • Joseth Scott Joseth Scott on Sep 07, 2013
    Thanks everyone for your comments, suggestions, and advice. What an education!!! :) Becca, I planted an Oleander 5 years ago & it has not bloomed for me, yet the Crepe Myrtles next to it are the most beautiful in the neighborhood.
  • Angelique DeMarco Angelique DeMarco on Sep 07, 2013
    Deff 4 o'clocks....I have several. Enjoy them greatly. :)
  • Connie Connie on Sep 08, 2013
    I have never liked four oclocks,they were on our property when we bought it 30 years ago.I worked hard to get rid of them but they just kept coming back.I still have one come up every now and then.They come up in the grass and everywhere.They get about 3 feet tall.
  • Sotelo Sotelo on Sep 08, 2013
    almost everybody got the name . It is alas cuatro. It normally opens up at around 4 oclock. It also bears black round seeds that are not smooth. when you crush the flowers they're slimy. They're pretty.
  • Pam Pam on Sep 09, 2013
    Looks like 4 o'clocks.
  • Carmen Nemrac Carmen Nemrac on Sep 11, 2013
    I examined the pics. Those plants in italian are named belle di notte that is beautifull ladies in the night. They product some black seeds similar to beans that fall from the center of the flowers. They are very decorative. Nice. In English: four o'clock flowers,
  • Catherine Smith Catherine Smith on Sep 11, 2013
    Four o'clocks are a great "trap" crop for Japanese beetles and other insect pests. The flowers are toxic to the beetles, just plant them well away from plants you want to protect. Fencing is about the only solution I know of to really keep the deer off, although there are repellants that seem to help. I personally, however, have been tempted to help "Bambi" commit suicide in the middle of my bean rows. grrrrrrrrrrr Just as cheeky and casual as could be.
  • Joseth Scott Joseth Scott on Sep 11, 2013
    Carmen - Thanks, that name seem very fitting as the b lossoms come out at around four o'clock and stays through the night. It really "briightens its corner!" Beautiful specimen.
  • Linda Linda on Sep 28, 2013
    They are 4 O'clock s. Pink, yellow and variegated colors that smell heavenly when they open at 4 O'clock ito the evening. Will reseed themselves.
  • Arvind Shukla Arvind Shukla on Sep 29, 2013
    I Love this flower Its come three colour White,Yellow & ruby Pink
  • Maravilha ( Mirabilis jalapa )
  • As flores são polinizadas pelas mariposas de língua longa da família Sphingidae e outros polinizadores noturnos atraídos pela fragrância 1 . Flores amarelas Flores brancas Flores vermelhas Flores rosa-escuras Flor branca com listras róseas Flor meio-branca e meio-violeta Flores amarelas com manchas róseas Flores brancas com manchas róseas Flores amarelo-róseas Flores listradas Sementes de Maravilha.Habitat e Cultivo[editar | editar código-fonte] Maravilha origina da América do Sul tropical, mas tornou-se naturalizado em todas as regiões tropicais e regiões temperadas. Em regiões declima temperado muito frias, maravilha morre nas primeiras geadas, replantar na primavera seguinte, a partir das raízes tuberosas. A planta vive bem em pleno sol. Ela cresce para cerca de 0,9 m de altura. As sementes são esféricas, enrugadas e pretas, que no princípio era amarelo-esverdeado. Ajudar a responder esta pergunta ...
  • Marcia Marcia on Jun 15, 2015
    I also found that the they would repel moles . even though moles are insectivores, they don't appreciate the sap from the roots and tubers. I'll bet they would be a gopher deterrent.
  • Brenda Turnquest Brenda Turnquest on Jun 15, 2015
    The ones with the broad leaves are cannas ( a type of lily I believe). They come in quite a few colors. They will keep spreading if left unchecked, but they are so beautiful when blooming.
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Jul 05, 2015
    Are you referring to the Canna or the Four O' Clocks? Four O' Clocks open about 4 and or when it is a bit cooled off here in Florida. Mine will open in the cool of the morning or when the sun it not so hot and also in the late afternoon. They come in white, yellow, and at least two shades of pink that I have.
  • Linda Linda on May 06, 2016
    They're called 4 o'clocks...
  • Pat6036890 Pat6036890 on May 10, 2016
    4 oclocks
  • Micki Micki on May 14, 2016
    Four-o'clocks
  • JoAnn JoAnn on May 14, 2016
    Four o' clocks will have seeds that you can also use to replant!
  • Micki Micki on May 15, 2016
    The four o'clocks have dark black hard seeds once the flower has bloomed out. You can plant the seeds anywhere in sun or part sun; or let them naturally fall to the ground for more flowers the next year. I've had yellow, pink, dark pink blossoms. My great grandmother had a big patch of them outside her back door and by her clothesline.
  • Veronica tucker Veronica tucker on May 21, 2016
    Definitely four oclocks
  • Yep, four o'clocks. They will reseed themselves.
  • Sue Kiene Sue Kiene on Oct 07, 2016
    the head of the family is very pretty. Maybe you could do a planting at the rear of your property to give them something to eat (that they like) to stay away from your flowers.