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Mirabilis jalapa

marvel of peru

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–11

Overview

Mirabilis jalapa is a bushy, tender perennial in the Nyctaginaceae, grown as an annual in cool climates, reaching 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall and wide from a thick tuberous root. The smooth, oval leaves are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long on branching, often reddish stems. Trumpet-shaped flowers about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across open in late afternoon and close by morning, releasing a sweet scent that draws hawk moths. Flower colour ranges across red, magenta, pink, yellow, and white, and a single plant can carry several colours and even striped or sectored blooms. It flowers from early summer to frost and self-seeds freely, with hard black seeds that sprout the next year. The seeds and the tuberous root are poisonous if eaten and can cause stomach upset. In USDA zones 7-11 the tuber overwinters in the ground; in colder areas it is lifted and stored or grown fresh from seed each year. The root resprouts after light frost cuts the top growth. Native to tropical South America, Mirabilis jalapa is grown as a flowering bedding and border plant and has naturalized in warm regions worldwide.

Native Range

Mirabilis jalapa is native to tropical South America, likely the Andes of Peru, and was cultivated across Mesoamerica before spreading worldwide. It has naturalized in warm temperate and tropical regions on several continents.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a flowering plant in summer borders, containers, and informal hedges, and near patios where the evening scent carries. The afternoon-opening flowers suit spaces used in the evening rather than midday display.

How to Identify

Identify Mirabilis jalapa by its trumpet-shaped flowers that open in late afternoon and close the next morning, often with several colours on one plant. The flowers have no true petals; the colour comes from a petal-like calyx. The hard, round, black seeds and the late-day opening separate it from petunias and other trumpet-flowered bedding plants.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 3'

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Trumpet-shaped flowers open from early summer until the first frost, generally June to October. Each flower opens in late afternoon and closes by mid morning, and cloudy days keep them open longer. New flowers form continuously through the season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

red, pink, magenta, yellow, or white

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Mirabilis jalapa grows in full sun to partial shade and tolerates most well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0-7.5. It grows quickly in warm weather and needs regular watering during dry spells, though established plants tolerate short drought. In zones 7-11 the tuberous root survives winter in the ground, while in colder regions it can be lifted after the first frost and stored dry. It self-seeds heavily, so seedlings appear around the parent the next spring. The seeds and root are poisonous if eaten. It needs little fertilizer in average soil.

Pruning

Shear back leggy stems in midsummer to keep the plant bushy and to prompt new flowering shoots. Removing developing seed heads reduces self-seeding. Cut frost-killed top growth to the ground where the root is left in place over winter.

Pruning Schedule

summer