ExplorePlants

Wild Four o'Clock

Mirabilis nyctaginea

Wild Four o'Clock is a colorful flower that blooms in the evening. Its bright petals open up at sunset and close in the morning, making it a special sight to see at dusk!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Wild Four o'Clock has heart-shaped leaves and clusters of small, trumpet-shaped flowers, usually pinkish-purple, but sometimes white. Its flowers are surrounded by prominent green, leaf-like bracts, making the entire bloom cluster look larger.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyNyctaginaceaeGenusMirabilis
Wild Four o'Clock
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgefragrant_flower trait badgenight_blooming trait badge
Wild Four o'Clock

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

13

Interesting facts

Each dark, wrinkled seed looks just like a tiny piece of dried fruit!

Its vibrant "flowers" are actually tiny blooms hugged by special leaf-like bracts!

The Wild Four o'Clock is a very adaptable plant, thriving in many different soils!

This plant's Latin name, Mirabilis, means "wonderful" or "marvelous"!

Special abilities

Ability

Twilight Bloomer

Wild Four o'Clock can open its flowers when the sun sets, releasing a sweet scent to attract night-flying pollinators.

Ability

Secret Water Storage

Wild Four o'Clock has a huge, tuberous taproot that stores water and food, helping it survive long dry spells.

Ability

Tough Pioneer

Wild Four o'Clock can quickly establish itself and thrive in disturbed or poor soils, making it very resilient.

Measurements & details

Height
30-150 cm
Spread
30-90 cm
Flower Size
1-2 cm
Bloom Season
Summer to fall
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

White-lined Sphinx moth

Hyles lineata

visits flowers for nectar at dusk

pollinates

Tobacco Hornworm moth

Manduca sexta

adults visit flowers for nectar

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses on the plant's leaves and stems

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects pollen during the day

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Wild Four o'Clock?

The easiest way to identify Wild Four o'Clock is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Wild Four o'Clock?

30-150 cm

How wide does Wild Four o'Clock spread?

30-90 cm

How big are the flowers on Wild Four o'Clock?

1-2 cm

When does Wild Four o'Clock bloom?

Summer to fall

Is Wild Four o'Clock edible?

No

Is Wild Four o'Clock toxic?

Mild

What is Wild Four o'Clock's lifecycle?

Perennial

Snap Map

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