Mirabilis jalapa 'Afternoon Delight' (Four o'clock flower 'Afternoon Delight')

Botanical name

Mirabilis jalapa 'Afternoon Delight'

Other names

Marvel of the world 'Afternoon Delight', Four o'clock flower 'Afternoon Delight', Japanese wonder flower 'Afternoon Delight', Jalap plant 'Afternoon Delight', False jalap 'Afternoon Delight', Garden jalap 'Afternoon Delight', Pretty-by-night

Genus

Mirabilis Mirabilis

Variety or Cultivar

'Afternoon Delight' _ 'Afternoon Delight' is a tender perennial, sometimes grown as an annual. It has mid-green leaves and in summer, bears clusters of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the afternoon.

Foliage

Deciduous

Fragrance

Flowers are fragrant- more so in the late afternoon

Habit

Bushy

Toxicity

Contact may irritate skin. Ingestion may cause severe discomfort.

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Colour

Flower

Red, Purple, Pink, Yellow, White in Summer

Foliage

Green in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Generally disease-free

Specific pests

Aphids , Slugs

General care

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Mirabilis jalapa 'Afternoon Delight' (Four o'clock flower 'Afternoon Delight') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.5m after 2 years.

Suggested uses

City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Containers

Cultivation

Plant in moderately fertile, free-draining soil in a sunny sheltered position. Not frost-hardy, so will require protection or lifting of tubers. Alternatively, grow in a container and overwinter indoors.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Mirabilis jalapa 'Afternoon Delight' (Four o'clock flower 'Afternoon Delight')

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/