4 O'Clocks and Red Hot Poker Lilies

Has anyone grown these and with success? What did you plant over them when they were not in bloom?
Thanks!

Four o'clocks are beautiful but they can take over and so be careful where you site them. Red Hot Pokers can get quite large so leave them lots of room and in the back of a border.

I thought Four O'Clocks were annuals. How do they take over? Do they reseed themselves? I have some upstairs started from seeds so would like to know what to watch for later on. Thanks! (I do love them though!)

Four o'clocks can come back from a tuber in warmer zones...but they reseed with abandon everywhere. One great thing about them though...they are like candy for Japanese Beetles and they are quite deadly to them too. Plant them everywhere you want to have a little beetle control.

I just let my Red Hot Pokers bloom and enjoy the show while it's there. The clump isn't ugly, and it's like anything else that has a bloom season, plant something near it that will bloom later if you want color there all the time.

Hey Mel, any chance that you might have an extra red hot poker to share this spring?

I love the beetle tip. I LOATH those bugs! I may just put a few of my four o'clocks in the rose beds. They destroy my rose blooms during one of the best times for rose blooms each year. Did I say that I hate Japanese Beetles???????????

I need to divide the clump of RHP anyway...guess I'll repay you for some of the great plants you've given me.

Seems like every time we go to Ellen's, I come home with a car load of growing things.

All of the shrubs and trees made it fine through the winter and are starting to get new growth. I'm so glad Spring is finally here! Only trouble is...in two weeks it will be full blown summer and hot as blazes...Spring just don't last very long here.

Thanks for the kind words, my friend. I never need re-payment but if you have extras of things I am more than heppy to take them. LOL! Dear hubby is always IN NEED of your great tomato plants so you are always "paying us back" by providing us with those.

I am thrilled that the trees and shrubs made it through the winter. All of those were started as tiny babies so as their birth mother, I am glad they were adopted into a wonderful home.

Boy, you said it Kiddo! Spring doesn't last long in our area of the country. I am enjoying it while it does last however.
How did the trip to the daylily farm go, or have you gone yet? I am dying to go there. I will have a hard time resisting those lilies once I do get there. When did she say the best time would be to see a wonderful display in bloom?

Elena, I hate those blasted Japanese Beetles also. I have 4 o'clock seeds that I was going to start soon. Do you want me to start some for you to pick up on May 22? Nat

Thanks Nat. What do you have? I have pink and yellow that come up voluntarily. Are there other colors? I am getting closer to making a list of haves for that roundup. Things are beginning to re-appear following their winter sleep so I will know soon what will be available excess-wise.

This message was edited Apr 6, 2004 11:53 AM

I have one batch of seed that is all hot pink, and another called limelight (if I can find my seed packet LOL) that has bright limegreen foliage and pink flowers.

Why don't you save me one or two of the last one that you described if you are able to get any started. I don't think that would describe mine at all. I never know which of my baby plants are what colors until they bloom since they are sown by the plants. I can save some of them for you if you would like me to. I also have some that are a cross of the two colors and are sort of tangerine color but they might not come back true to the mixed color. I can just take up a few in different locations and maybe I will be lucky enough to get all 3 colors....and maybe NOT!!!

I have enough seeds to get started what I need - - I will start you several of the limelight 4'clocks.

Thanks, I will look forward to getting them from you.