# Colorado Four o'Clock (*Mirabilis multiflora*) The Colorado Four o'Clock is a colorful flower that blooms in the evening. Its bright petals can be pink, yellow, or white, and they attract many butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Colorado Four o'Clock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mirabilis_multiflora_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mirabilis_multiflora_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Colorado Four o'Clock is a sprawling, bushy perennial with dark green, heart-shaped leaves. It has trumpet-shaped flowers, usually a vibrant magenta or deep pink, but sometimes white or yellow, that unfurl in the late afternoon. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Nyctaginaceae - **Genus:** Mirabilis ## Interesting facts - Ancient people sometimes used parts of this plant for medicine or food. - Even after a big fire, this plant can grow back from its strong underground roots! - Its enormous root can weigh more than your whole backpack! - The tiny 'seeds' are actually fruits, and they look like little wrinkled pebbles! ## Special abilities - **Twilight Bloomer:** Colorado Four o'Clock can open its fragrant flowers at dusk, attracting nocturnal moths for pollination. - **Deep Root Diver:** It has a super-long taproot that helps it find deep water, surviving very dry climates. - **Seed Shooter:** Its small, nut-like fruits drop seeds that can grow quickly after rains. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 60-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — attracted by evening fragrance - **Eaten by:** Tobacco Hornworm (*Manduca quinquemaculata*) — larvae feed on leaves - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects pollen and nectar ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Colorado Four o'Clock? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Colorado Four o'Clock? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Colorado Four o'Clock spread? 60-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on Colorado Four o'Clock? 2-3 cm ### When does Colorado Four o'Clock bloom? Summer to fall ### Is Colorado Four o'Clock edible? No ### Is Colorado Four o'Clock toxic? Mild ### What is Colorado Four o'Clock's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-rock-canyon-national-conservation-area) — Nevada, US · Nature Reserve - [Navajo Nation Zoological and Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/navajo-nation-zoological-and-botanical-park) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saddlehorn-utility-area-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Zion Lodge–Birch Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zion-lodge-birch-creek-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District [View all places to see Colorado Four o'Clock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/colorado-four-oclock) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Colorado Four o'Clock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/colorado-four-oclock)