# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Wild Four o'Clock](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mirabilis_nyctaginea_NPS-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jim Pisarowicz, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mirabilis_nyctaginea_NPS-1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Nyctaginaceae - **Genus:** Mirabilis ## 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 - **Twilight Bloomer:** Wild Four o'Clock can open its flowers when the sun sets, releasing a sweet scent to attract night-flying pollinators. - **Secret Water Storage:** Wild Four o'Clock has a huge, tuberous taproot that stores water and food, helping it survive long dry spells. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [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. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## 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? 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Customhouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/customhouse-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Downtown Providence Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-providence-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Glastonbury Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glastonbury-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Wild Four o'Clock](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wild-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: [Wild Four o'Clock: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-four-oclock)