Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Four o'clock flower.
Mirabilis jalapa
Pronounced mih-RAH-bih-liss jah-LAH-pah
Also known as Beauty of the Night, Four o'clock, Four-o'clock, Marvel of Peru, Marvel-Of-Peru
The four o'clock flower is a charming plant that opens its fragrant blooms in the late afternoon. It's a tender perennial often grown as an annual in cooler climates. You'll love how it adds a splash of color to your garden as the sun begins to set.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Every 3 to 7 days
- Mature size
- 3 feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Hardiness
- USDA 7 to 11
- Bloom time
- Mid summer to late autumn
Care
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to support its rapid growth. Watch for wilting during the heat of the day, which usually resolves once the sun goes down. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage a longer blooming season.
- Watering
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
- Pruning
- Trim back leggy stems to promote a bushier shape and remove faded flowers.
- Repotting
- Repot in the spring if the plant has outgrown its container or needs fresh soil.
- Soil
- Well draining loamy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.0
- Temperature
- 5 to 35°C
- Humidity
- 40 to 70%
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Perennial in warm zones, often grown as an annual elsewhere.
- Fragrance
- Strong
- Deer and rabbits
- Moderate
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Plant growth slowing significantly during the season.
Safety
- People
- Ingestion of seeds or roots can cause gastrointestinal distress and vomiting.
- Pets
- This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
- Children
- The seeds are small and round, posing a potential choking hazard to small children.
- Contact allergens
- The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Airborne allergens
- The pollen is not typically considered a major allergen.
- Edibility
- All parts of the plant are considered toxic if ingested and should not be consumed.
How to identify it
- Trumpet shaped flowers in various colors
- Opposite ovate leaves on branching stems
- Black wrinkled seeds
- Fragrant blooms opening in late afternoon
- Height
- 0.6 to 1m
- Spread
- 0.45 to 0.9m
- Leaves
- green, deciduous
- Flowers
- pink, yellow, white, red, variegated, 2 to 5cm
- Fruit
- black, Autumn
Problems to watch for
- AphidsCommon
- Leaf SpotCommon
- Powdery MildewUncommon
- Root RotUncommon
Check your four o'clock flower from a photo
Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.
Growing it
- Propagation
- seed, tuber division
- When to plant
- Spring
- Overwintering
- In cold regions, dig up the tuberous roots after the first frost, let them dry, and store in a cool, dark place until spring.
- In containers
- It grows well in pots, but use a container at least 30 centimeters deep to accommodate the tuberous roots.
Seed
- 1. Soak seeds in water for a few hours before planting.
- 2. Sow seeds directly into warm soil after frost risk passes.
- 3. Cover lightly with soil and keep moist until germination.
Plant these near a patio or seating area to enjoy the evening fragrance.
Grows well with
Similar species
- Moonflower — Both are classic night blooming plants with strong evening appeal.
Science
- Family
- Nyctaginaceae
- Genus
- Mirabilis
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- Tropical South America
- Conservation
- Not of conservation concern as it is widely naturalized in tropical regions.
It thrives in disturbed soils and open areas where it can easily spread by seed.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source for nocturnal pollinators
- Pollinators
- moths, hummingbirds
- Uses
- ornamental border plant, container gardening, scented garden addition
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Light
- 7/9
- Moisture
- 5/9
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Temperature
- 7/9
- Nutrients
- 5/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- Do I need to deadhead the flowers?
- Deadheading is not strictly necessary but can keep the plant looking tidy.
- Can I grow this in a pot?
- Yes, it thrives in containers provided they have good drainage.
Where the name comes from
Mirabilis is Latin for wonderful, while jalapa refers to the Mexican city of Xalapa.
Good to know
- The name 'four o'clock' refers to the time the flowers typically open.
- Flowers on the same plant can sometimes be different colors or striped.
- The roots are tuberous and can be lifted and stored like dahlias in cold climates.
- It is a prolific self seeder in warm climates.
Also in
Keep your four o'clock flower growing
This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.