The Sweet Pink Plant That'll Make Your Container Garden A Hummingbird Hotspot

If you're looking to add a pop of bright pink to your container garden with a pretty flower that will also attract hummingbirds, look no further than the whimsical four o'clocks. Botanically known as Mirabilis jalapa, four o'clocks are the kinds of plants that get better with time — quite literally. As their name may hint, their trumpet-shaped flowers have a habit of opening later in the afternoon — funnily enough, around 4pm. This means these bright pink, yellow, and red blooms bring a touch of color and soft fragrances to your garden later in the day when other plants might be winding down.

Besides their pretty colors, four o'clocks also thrive in containers and are a magnet for hummingbirds. These avian pollinators are naturally drawn to bright, tubular flowers because their long beaks are perfectly designed to reach the nectar deep inside. Four o'clocks open late in the day, providing an essential, nectar-rich meal when hummingbirds are active and looking to refuel before nighttime sets in. The vibrant colors of the flowers act like neon signs, guiding hummingbirds in for a feast. It's this combination of shape, color, and timing that makes four o'clocks a flower that will transform your space into a hummingbird heaven.

Thanks to their natural spreading habit and manageable size (they usually reach a maximum of 3 feet in height), four o'clocks are plants that will thrive in containers in full sun. One healthy plant can easily fill a single pot with its bold blooms and lush green foliage, making it a standout all on its own. Because they like room to spread out, giving them their own container ensures they can thrive without feeling crowded.

Once you've dedicated containers to your four o'clocks, you can group those pots with other containers nearby to create a lively, colorful garden display. Pairing them with pots of delicate purple petunias (Petunia × atkinsiana) or pink million bells (Calibrachoa) will add extra pops of color to your container garden. For a more layered look, try ornamental grasses like blue fescue (Festuca glauca) or spiky salvias (Salvia spp.). By keeping four o'clocks in their own pots, you're giving them space to flourish and show off their vibrant blooms, while also complementing the other container plants placed nearby.

Growing four o'clocks in containers is an easy and rewarding way to add vibrant color to your outdoor space. Choose a large pot that's both deep and wide, as these plants need space for their roots to spread and for their foliage to fill out. Make sure your container has proper drainage holes so that the soil is well-drained.

Position your container somewhere that gets full sun as four o'clocks love at least six hours of sunlight daily. Hardy in USDA Zones 7 through 10, water these tender perennial plants consistently, especially during long, dry spells, but allow the soil to dry thoroughly in between, as these plants are susceptible to root rot.

To encourage continuous blooming, feed your four o'clocks with a fertilizer periodically throughout the growing season. In colder climates, treat your four o'clocks like you would treat dahlias when you are trying to protect them from the cold winter weather. You can dig up and store the tuberous roots over winter, then replant in spring. In warmer zones, they'll return year after year, turning your containers into a reliable hummingbird hotspot.