Guide to growing garden plants - Mirabilis Beauty of the night

Mirabilis are half hardy perennials that reach from 60cm to 1.2M in height; they are usually grown as half hardy annuals in the garden.

Mirabilis bloom from summer until the end of autumn, but will only grow in warm areas that have low humidity.

They carry trumpet shaped flowers of pink, red or white that come out in the evening and have a fragrant nature.

Some common names for Mirabilis include Beauty of the Night, Four-o'clock and Marvel of Peru.

How to grow marvel of Beauty of the Night

Beauty of the Night should be sown about a week after the last frost of spring on the surface. The plant likes to grow in an average soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6 to 7). Beauty of the night can be grown both in sunny and in partially shaded areas.

If starting Beauty of the night and other Mirabilis off indoors then start about one and a half months in advance. The seeds should be sown in peat pots and takes about one to three weeks to germinate in the light at 20 degrees Centigrade. Once ready transplant the young beauty of the night plants following the last frost at from 15 to 20cm (small Mirabilis) or 30 to 90cm (larger species) apart.

Caring for Mirabilis plants

Once growing it is best to water beauty of the night regularly; it is also necessary to fertilise Mirabilis once a month. Once the flowering period has finished cut the plants back to ground level. If you require more Mirabilis plants then the tubers can be divided in the spring.