Four O’Clock Flower (Mirabilis jalapa)

A continuously flowering plant that blooms at night

Characteristics

The wonder flower belongs to the wonder flower family. A single plant can produce flowers in different colors or with stripes. It is native to South America and is also known as Maravilla del Peru. The wonder flower forms a root tuber that looks like an elongated turnip. It is a perennial and reproduces via its seeds. At night, it emits an intense, sweet scent that attracts nocturnal pollinators.

Location

Prefers full sun to light partial shade. It does not require much water, but prolonged dry spells reduce flowering. It is very hardy and thrives in well-drained, moderately moist soil rich in nutrients.

Observations

This bushy, gorgeous flowering plant brings us great joy. It pops up again and again in the summer—and sometimes even in between—in many places around the finca. It blooms magnificently and needs relatively little water, despite its numerous leaves. We’ve read that this plant doesn’t open until late afternoon and only then begins to give off its fragrance. We can’t confirm that. Sometimes it’s open, and sometimes it’s fragrant. A specific time of day doesn’t seem to play a role, though the hours before dusk can certainly be considered its favorite time to bloom. Especially at twilight, its colors have an intensity that’s rarely seen. The colors are almost overwhelming. But it also likes to open at other times, when the sun isn’t quite so hot.