Four O'Clock in Zone 10a & 10b
Mirabilis jalapa
When to plant four o'clock in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Four O'Clock doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Window | Spring window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar–Jun |
| Estimated bloom | May 10–Sep 8 (~70 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: about 2 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Four o'clocks are named for exactly what they do: the trumpet-shaped flowers, pink, red, yellow, white, or speckled bicolor, stay closed most of the day and pop open in late afternoon, releasing a strong sweet fragrance that carries into the evening. It's a low-effort plant to get started, the seed is large and easy to handle, nothing like the dust-fine seed of many other flowers, but it needs plenty of room once it's growing.
How four o'clock fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Four O'Clock needs about 70 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Four O'Clock.
Where to buy four o'clock seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing four o'clock" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Four O'Clock in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest