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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Mirabilis linearis (Narrowleaf four o'clock)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Mirabilis linearis (Pursh) Heimerl

Narrowleaf four o'clock

Nyctaginaceae (Four-O'clock Family)

USDA Symbol: MILI3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Mirabilis, in Latin, and Maravilla, in Spanish, both mean marvelous, which the flowers certainly are. They open in the shade of the late afternoon. This lovely native species is a close relative of Common Four-oclock (M. jalapa), a plant originally from Mexico, popular in gardens since the Aztecs, and now commonly escaping into the wild; it has purple, yellow, or sometimes white or variegated flowers generally not longer than 2 1/2 (6.5 cm).

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Upright narrow growth pattern.
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , CT , IL , IN , KS , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OK , PA , SD , TN , TX , UT , WI , WY
Canada: SK
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Prefers dry, rocky or sandy soil of plains, hillsides, and roadsides.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0526 Collected Jul 27, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0996 Collected Oct 12, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe
NPSOT 0139 Collected Sept. 30, 1991 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps

Bibliography

Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Mirabilis linearis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Mirabilis linearis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Mirabilis linearis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-09-29
Research By: TWC Staff

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