Four Oclock is a perennial grown for its blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for moths and hummingbirds. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Four Oclock is
Four Oclock grows as a perennial and reaches around three feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Four Oclock
Four Oclock grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Four Oclock does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 210 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
41°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
3 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
210+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant four oclock in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun. It grows in the cool halves of the year, so sow it in spring or late summer rather than waiting for midsummer heat.
Match the soil
Four Oclock prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut four oclock blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — four oclock is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Four Oclock offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.)
Where Four Oclock thrives
Four Oclock is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 9–11·Where Four Oclock growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Four Oclock can grow in these states:
See if Four Oclock will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether four oclock actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Four Oclock in my zone?
Four Oclock grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Four Oclock?
Four Oclock is a cool-season crop, so it goes in during the cool halves of the year — early spring, and again in late summer for a fall planting — rather than at the height of summer heat. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Four Oclock need?
Four Oclock needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Four Oclock need?
Four Oclock prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Four Oclock attract pollinators?
Yes — four oclock's flowers are a solid nectar source for moths and hummingbirds. (Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.)
Is Four Oclock safe for pets?
Four Oclock is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)