Is It Four o'Clock Yet?

Though quite a few new plants have been unable to survive the extended heat this summer, Mirabilis jalapa has been a wonderful exception, establishing successfully and going on to bloom abundantly.  Started from seed indoors last winter, it is one plant that I had been half-sure should be a good addition to the tropicals-able-to-take-the-heat element in the garden.   Though my first trial a year ago failed, due probably to bad timing, this year's attempt is finally proving itself!

A native of Peru (also known as Marvel of Peru), one of the most fascinating things about Four o'Clocks is their ability to grow different colored flowers on the same plant.  This particular variety ('Stars and Stripes') also boasts stripes and splashes as well as parti-colored blooms.

And solid pink and simple white.

My one disappointment has been lack of scent, which I remember as being quite strong.  This variety was, besides, advertised as fragrant, so I'm not sure what has happened to that fragrance!  Perhaps next year?

I do expect them to go on well to next year.  They are known as tender perennials, but I once had a plant that sailed through several sub-freezing Midwest winters, so I am not sure what the actual cold hardiness might be!  In any case, I expect them to last at least a few years here, where winter lows rarely drop much below freezing.

As the plants receive a fair amount of shade in the afternoon, I am getting to see the open flowers for longer periods -- especially now that the days are getting a bit shorter!  They may actually be opening by four o'clock these days!

Weather Diary: Fair (though we had rain last night!); High: 99 F (37 C)/Low: 75 F (24 C); Humidity: 26%-78%