Four O'Clock
ExplorePlants
Four O'Clock
Mirabilis pudica Barneby
The Four O'Clock flower is named for its habit of opening its blooms in the late afternoon. These colorful flowers come in shades of pink, red, yellow, and white, adding beauty to gardens.
Habitat: Gardens
Appearance
The Four O'Clock is a bushy plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the late afternoon. Its vibrant blooms, often in shades of pink, red, yellow, or white, may appear striped or mottled, making each flower unique.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyNyctaginaceaeGenusMirabilis
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its name comes from the flowers often opening around 4 PM, like a living clock!
Some plants can grow flowers of different colors, like pink and yellow, all on one plant!
The unique seeds look like tiny, wrinkled hand grenades, waiting to pop open!
Traditional healers once used its roots for stomach issues, a secret ancient remedy!
Special abilities
Ability
Night Bloomers
Four O'Clock can open its fragrant flowers at dusk, attracting nighttime pollinators like moths with its sweet scent.
Ability
Hidden Storehouse
Four O'Clock has thick, tuberous roots that store water and nutrients, helping it survive dry periods.
Ability
Pop-open Seeds
Four O'Clock forms distinctive black, ribbed seeds that pop open when mature, spreading new plants easily.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-100 cm
- Spread
- 60-90 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer to Fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Tobacco Hornworm Moth
Manduca sexta
visits flowers for nectar at night
eaten by
Beet Armyworm
Spodoptera exigua
caterpillars munch on its leaves
symbiotic with
Humans
Homo sapiens
cultivates for ornamental beauty and traditional uses
Traits
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Everblooming
Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Night Blooming
Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.
Also known as
Marvel of PeruMirabilis
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Enjoy the beauty of Four O'Clock flowers from a safe distance and avoid touching or ingesting them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Four O'Clock?
60-100 cm
How wide does Four O'Clock spread?
60-90 cm
How big are the flowers on Four O'Clock?
2-4 cm
When does Four O'Clock bloom?
Summer to Fall
Is Four O'Clock edible?
No
Is Four O'Clock toxic?
Moderate
What is Four O'Clock's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Four O'Clock pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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