Status:
valid
Authors:
L.
Source:
cmp
Year:
1753
Citation Micro:
Sp. Pl. : 177 (1753)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000448428
Common Names
- Four O'Clock
- Marvel of Peru
- Mirabilis jalapa
Synonyms
- Jalapa officinalis Garsault [unknown]
- Nyctago hortensis Juss. ex Roem. & Schult. [unknown]
- Nyctago jalapae DC. [unknown]
- Nyctago versicolor Salisb. [unknown]
- Mirabilis lindheimeri (Standl.) Shinners [unknown]
- Mirabilis jalapa lindheimeri Standl. [unknown]
- Mirabilis jalapa lindheimeri (Standl.) Cory [unknown]
- Mirabilis jalapa jalapa [unknown]
Description
Mirabilis jalapa (also called Four O'Clock, among many other common names) is an annual or perennial flowering plant native to Central and South America. It has bright, colorful flowers and grows in open, sunny areas.
Uses & Benefits
Mirabilis jalapa is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks. It is also used in traditional medicine for treating digestive disorders.
Cultivars, Varieties & Sub-species
Mirabilis jalapa var. procera (Bertol.) Choisy
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Mirabilis jalapa is a small, white, fragrant flower with four petals. The seed of this plant is a small, oval-shaped nut. The seedlings are small and have a single, oval-shaped leaf.
Cultivation and Propagation
Mirabilis jalapa is an evergreen perennial that grows in clumps. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Propagation is done by division of the clumps in early spring or by seed in late winter. The seed should be sown in a cold frame and then transplanted to their permanent positions when they are large enough to handle.
Where to Find Mirabilis jalapa
Mirabilis jalapa is native to Central and South America and can be found in tropical and subtropical climates.
Mirabilis jalapa FAQ
What is the scientific name of Mirabilis jalapa?
Mirabilis jalapa
What is the common name of Mirabilis jalapa?
Four O'clock Flower
What is the native range of Mirabilis jalapa?
Tropical America
Species in the Mirabilis genus
Mirabilis jalapa,
Mirabilis hirsuta,
Mirabilis elegans,
Mirabilis longiflora,
Mirabilis oxybaphoides,
Mirabilis odorata,
Mirabilis violacea,
Mirabilis campanulata,
Mirabilis intercedens,
Mirabilis oaxacae,
Mirabilis ovata,
Mirabilis prostrata,
Mirabilis weberbaueri,
Mirabilis aggregata,
Mirabilis albida,
Mirabilis alipes,
Mirabilis bigelovii,
Mirabilis californica,
Mirabilis coccinea,
Mirabilis collina,
Mirabilis decipiens,
Mirabilis dumetorum,
Mirabilis gigantea,
Mirabilis glabra,
Mirabilis glabrifolia,
Mirabilis greenei,
Mirabilis linearis,
Mirabilis macfarlanei,
Mirabilis multiflora,
Mirabilis oblongifolia,
Mirabilis pudica,
Mirabilis pumila,
Mirabilis rotundifolia,
Mirabilis tenuiloba,
Mirabilis expansa,
Mirabilis viscosa,
Mirabilis laevis,
Mirabilis pulchella,
Mirabilis watsoniana,
Mirabilis suffruticosa,
Mirabilis wrightiana,
Mirabilis hintoniorum,
Mirabilis microchlamydea,
Mirabilis comata,
Mirabilis longipes,
Mirabilis triflora,
Mirabilis oligantha,
Mirabilis polyphylla,
Mirabilis pringlei,
Mirabilis urbani,
Species in the Nyctaginaceae family
Abronia alba,
Abronia alpina,
Abronia ameliae,
Abronia ammophila,
Abronia angustifolia,
Abronia argillosa,
Abronia bigelovii,
Abronia bolackii,
Abronia carnea,
Abronia crux-maltae,
Abronia elliptica,
Abronia fragrans,
Abronia gracilis,
Abronia latifolia,
Abronia macrocarpa,
Abronia maritima,
Abronia mellifera,
Abronia micrantha,
Abronia minor,
Abronia nana,
Abronia nealleyi,
Abronia parviflora,
Abronia pogonantha,
Abronia turbinata,
Abronia umbellata,
Abronia villosa,
Abronia insularis,
Abronia neurophylla,
Abronia platyphylla,
Abronia variabilis,
Acleisanthes acutifolia,
Acleisanthes angustifolia,
Acleisanthes anisophylla,
Acleisanthes chenopodioides,
Acleisanthes crassifolia,
Acleisanthes diffusa,
Acleisanthes lanceolata,
Acleisanthes longiflora,
Acleisanthes nana,
Acleisanthes nevadensis,
Acleisanthes obtusa,
Acleisanthes palmeri,
Acleisanthes parvifolia,
Acleisanthes purpusiana,
Acleisanthes somalensis,
Acleisanthes undulata,
Acleisanthes wrightii,
Allionia choisyi,
Allionia incarnata,
Allionia viscida,