Sherman, Doug
Mirabilis multiflora (Torr.) Gray
Colorado four o'clock
Nyctaginaceae (Four-O'clock Family)
Vibrant deep pink, broadly tubular flowers bloom in 5-lobed cups growing in leaf axils of this bushy plant. The repeatedly forked stems of this
perennial, forming stout, leafy clumps 18 in. high and up to 3 ft. wide. Flower stems are
solitary in leaf axils and in clusters at the ends of branches. Large, showy, five-lobed, magenta-purple flowers, open in late afternoon and closing in the morning. The foliage is dark green.
Flowers open in the evening. Two similar species occur in totally separate areas. They are Greens Four-oclock (
M. greenei), on dry slopes in northern California, and MacFarlanes Four-oclock (
M. macfarlanei), in canyons in northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho.
Image Gallery:
11 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Herb Leaf Arrangement: Opposite Leaf Shape: Cordate Breeding System: Flowers
Bisexual Size Notes: The Four-O’Clock has a rounded profile, growing approximately 3 feet high and spreading 3 feet in diameter. The root of this long-lived
perennial can get quite large—in older specimens the circumference can be up to a foot or more.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 1-1/2 to 2-1/8 inches in length
Fruit: Seeds are dark, often ribbed, and are shaped like miniature hand-grenades.
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Blooming nearly half the year, from April to mid-September, the Four-O’Clock opens a mass of fragrant blossoms in the afternoon, thus acquiring it’s common name.
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , NV , NM , TX , UT
Native Distribution: S.w. CO & UT, s. to n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Open, sandy hillsides & mesas; juniper & pinyon communities; 2500 to 6500 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Drought tolerant. This rapidly growing plant is long-lived and undemanding. It is useful as a ground cover, is used for erosion control, and is attractive draping a retaining wall. It can be mowed off at ground level in October.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Four-O’Clocks are well-suited to both sun and partial shade, and are
perfect for livening any bed or border with a blast of color.
Use Wildlife: This night-blooming species is visited by many nocturnal insects, including the hawkmoths Sphinx chersis and Eumorpha achemon, as well as pollen-collecting bees visiting at dusk and dawn. Also attracts hummingbird and quail.
Use Food: Large quantities of pulverized Four-O’Clock roots were recovered from the Fresnal Shelter in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico, dating back two thousand years, and are believed to have served as a source of food.
Use Medicinal: This plant has a long and varied history with many
Native peoples, uses that differ even among clans. The Navajos make a tea from it, a light purplish-brown dye for wool, use the plant internally for rheumatism, externally as an oral aid for mouth disorders, and use the roots as a poultice to reduce swellings. The Western Keres use the dried leaves as a tobacco substitute. The Hopi use the unusually heavy root as an anchor in bird traps, an antiseptic for wounds on their horses; a blood strengthener for pregnant women; and to induce visions while making a diagnosis. The Zuni mix the powdered root into their bread dough to suppress appetite. Other
Native peoples use the plant to treat indigestion, eye infections and colic in babies. The leaves steeped in oil and applied to the throat and back help reduce a dry heat fever.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Hummingbirds , Butterflies
2009-04-19
