Mirabilis jalapa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mih-RAB-ih-liss jah-LAHP-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Mirabilis jalapa can be grown as an annual across North Carolina, but only perennializes in warm, protected coastal gardens.Old plants produce large, potato-like tuberous roots, and its fragrant flowers open at four or five o'clock in the evening and are pollinated by hummingbirds and moths.
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Marvel of Peru
- Marvel of Peru
- Marvel of Peru
- Tags:














- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Marvel of Peru
- Marvel of Peru
- Marvel of Peru
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Mirabilis
- Species:
- jalapa
- Family:
- Nyctaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Central America
- Wildlife Value:
- pollinated by hummingbirds and moths
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderate drought tolerance.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- fruit leathery, 5-ribbed
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- flowers opening late in the afternoon or in very cloudy weather, white to red, yellow or striped, tubular and trumpet-like, 5-lobed
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans