Fauna
Plant

Marvel of Peru

Mirabilis jalapa

Also known as Four O'Clock Flower, Four O'Clock, Beauty of the Night

Marvel of Peru unfurls its fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in the late afternoon, earning its well-known nickname of the four o'clock flower. A single plant can produce blooms in multiple distinct colors, or even multi-colored streaked petals, which change pigment composition as the bush matures. These evening blossoms release a sweet perfume designed to attract night-flying sphinx moths and long-tongued pollinators.

FragrantNight-BloomingFlowering
Marvel of Peru reference1 / 7
(c) Ricard Busquets Reverte, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ricard Busquets Reverte · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Caterpillars
ThreatsFreezing temperatures; invasive spread in tropical ecosystems
HabitatsGardens, disturbed ground, roadsides, warm temperate and tropical regions
Life spanPerennial (often grown as an annual in freezing climates)
Classification
  1. OrderCaryophyllales
  2. FamilyNyctaginaceae
  3. GenusMirabilis
  4. SpeciesMirabilis jalapa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Seeds and tubers contain toxic alkaloids; keep away from pets and do not ingest.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic resinous alkaloids and trigonelline in the seeds and roots that cause stomach distress and severe irritation if swallowed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by its bushy foliage, dark wrinkled seeds resembling tiny grenades, and tubular blooms opening late in the day.
What to do
Wash hands after gathering seeds or tubers, and keep all parts away from curious pets or young children.
Responsible observation
  • Observing Blooms: Visit plants in late afternoon or early evening when the flowers unfurl.
  • Night Wildlife: Watch quietly after dark to spot long-tongued hawk moths probing for nectar.
  • Seed Collection: Look for dark, hard, grenade-like seeds forming after the flowers drop.
Related species
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