The Four O'clock Flower

My recent post on wildflowers had one prominent variety
missing from the list. The Four O'clock flower or Mirabilis
Jalapa. Growing next to railway tracks and roadsides, they
come in several hues. The most common ones are- dark pink,
white, yellow, and pink with white lines.

The flowers are so named because they open in the afternoon
when the temperature drops. They close the next morning except
on dull and cloudy days. The plant is multi-branched and the
blooms are tubular. The long tube is suited to long-tongued
nectar-feeding, night-flying pollinators.



Mirabilis jalapa is also known as Marvel of Peru. This native
of South America has now become naturalized in tropical and
temperate climes.

The plant does well in full sun or partial shade. Propagation
is easy. Through seeds and its tuberous root. The seeds resemble
pepper seeds. I've succeeded in growing it from stem as I couldn't
yank out the root. The stem just above the root gave away and I
planted that portion. That was in January. Now tiny white tubes
have sprouted. Can't wait to see whether those pink lines will
also be there! As of now, the pink variety has self-seeded. There
are quite a few plants in unlikely places rooting:) for new
homes/pots!

The above photographs are of the ones in my pots. The blooms in the
last photo were picked from the roadside and promptly put in a vase
in my kitchen. I remember reading that "Mirabilis" means wonderful
in Latin. An addition that's surely welcome in any garden.