Mirabilis jalapa

Four-o'-clock, False Jalap, Beauty of the Night, Marvel of Peru
Varieties

Message of the Flower

Solace

The Mother’s Comment

The blessing that the Divine grants us.

Colour

White and shades of red and yellow

Message of the Flower

Solace in the Mind

The Mother’s Comment

A silent peace.

Colour

Yellow

Message of the Flower

Solace in the Vital

The Mother’s Comment

Modest but effective.

Colour

Magenta

Message of the Flower

Integral Solace

The Mother’s Comment

That which one can receive only from the Divine.

Colour

White

Family

Nyctaginaceae

Cultivars

Numerous, including those with variegated, single, and double flowers

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

Approximately 2 inches in diameter

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

5 (though in double flowers, it appears as if there are more due to the doubling of petals)

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Fragrant, especially in the evening

Leaf Texture

Smooth

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Color

Green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial grown as an annual in cooler climates

Life Cycle

Perennial in zones 9-11, often grown as an annual elsewhere

Blooming Period

Late afternoon and evening, from summer to fall

Climate

Warm, temperate to tropical

Water Requirements

Moderate, prefers well-drained soil

Soil Type

Loamy, well-drained

Temperature Ranges

Prefers temperatures above 60F (15C)

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade.

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Can be susceptible to spider mites and fungal diseases in humid conditions

Pollinators

Attracts hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies

Habitat

Originally from tropical South America, now widely cultivated in gardens and landscapes around the world

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for pollinators

Ornamental

Widely used in gardens for its colorful flowers and fragrance

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Sometimes used in natural dye production

Endangered Status

Not endangered; widely cultivated.

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