Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check if you are watering the leaves instead of the soil.
- Look for signs of poor airflow around the plant.
- Inspect if the spots are spreading to healthy leaves.
Likely causes
Fungal Leaf Spot
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see brown or black spots with yellow halos on the foliage. These spots often grow larger during humid or rainy weather.
What to do: Remove and destroy any infected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid getting water on the leaves when you irrigate.
Bacterial Infection
PossibleHow to tell: The spots may look water soaked or have a greasy appearance. They often spread quickly across the leaf surface.
What to do: Sanitize your pruning shears with alcohol before trimming away affected parts. Ensure the plant has plenty of space between it and other plants to allow for airflow.
Find out what's wrong with your four o'clock flower
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Worry if the spots are spreading rapidly or causing the entire leaf to collapse. A few small spots are common in humid summers.
Stopping it coming back
Water only at the base of the plant and ensure it is planted in a spot with good sunlight and air movement.
Four o'clock flower: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your four o'clock flower and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I throw the plant away if it has spots?
- Not necessarily. Most Four o'clocks can recover if you remove the infected leaves and adjust your watering habits.
- Does rain cause leaf spots?
- Yes, frequent rain keeps the foliage wet for long periods, which is the perfect environment for fungi to grow.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Four o'clock flower
- Why are there tiny bugs on my Four o'clock?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant drooping?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant getting so leggy?
- Why is my Four o'clock wilting and dying?
- Why are my Four o'clock leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Four o'clock plant's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant dropping its leaves?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant not blooming?
- Why are my Four o'clock leaves curling?
Back to the Four o'clock flower guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.