Mirabilis jalapa
Four o'clock flower, marvel of Peru, false jalap, marvel of Peru: its flowers open in the late afternoon, perfume the entire night, then close again in the morning. A remarkable botanical curiosity: a single plant can simultaneously bear flowers of different colors, and sometimes a single flower variegated with two shades — a phenomenon that greatly interested geneticists.
Characteristics:
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Fragrant nocturnal flowering: flowers opening at the end of the day, with a delicate fragrance, throughout the summer.
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Multiple colors: red, pink, yellow, white, often mixed or variegated on the same plant.
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Tuberous perennial: in mild climates, it regrows from its tuberous root; elsewhere, it is grown as an annual or the tuber is brought indoors.
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Self-seeds: its large black seeds ensure its return year after year.
Precautions:
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The seeds and tuberous root are toxic if ingested. Its black seeds, about the size of a peppercorn, may attract young children: keep them out of reach and clearly label your packets.
- Prolonged contact with the sap may irritate sensitive skin.
Sowing advice:
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Exposure: full sun to partial shade.
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Soil: ordinary, loose and well-drained, remaining slightly cool. It is really not difficult and tolerates drought well once established thanks to its tuber. Adding compost benefits it but is not essential.
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Method: its seeds have a hard seed coat: soak them for 24 hours in lukewarm water before sowing. Sow directly in the ground after the last frosts, 1–2 cm deep, or in pots a few weeks earlier. See how to sow your seeds.
Planting advice:
- Transplant with 50 cm spacing: the plant becomes large and bushy. Place it near a terrace or window to enjoy its fragrance in the evening.
Care advice:
- Water regularly to keep the soil slightly moist in summer.
- In cold regions, dig up the tuber after the first frosts and store it in a dry, frost-free place, like a dahlia: it will regrow more vigorously the following year.
Beneficial pairings:
Benefits for biodiversity:
- Its long-tubed flowers, open at night, are pollinated by nocturnal moths, especially hawk moths that hover while feeding at dusk — a spectacle to watch for in the evening.
- It thus provides food for wildlife that most gardens completely overlook.
Uses:
- Strictly ornamental: flower beds, borders, temporary summer hedges and large containers. Its density makes it an excellent summer plant screen.
Symbolism:
Its name, “marvel of Peru,” dates from its introduction to Europe in the 16th century, where its nocturnal flowering and changing colors were considered wondrous. It symbolizes mystery and shyness.
Harvesting your own seeds:
The large, wrinkled black seeds detach on their own when mature: collect them at the base of the plant or pick them as soon as they turn black. Clearly label the packet given their toxicity. See how to store your seeds.
Commitment to Quality: at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for living organisms as our guiding principle. Based near the Volcanoes of Auvergne, we choose open-pollinated, non-hybrid varieties, tested for their germination rate, sorted and carefully packaged, without any chemical treatment. Our belief: to give gardeners back the ability to resow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.
Give yourself a garden that awakens when you come home in the evening.
