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Mirabilis nyctaginea - Michx.

Common Name Wild Four O'clock Plant, Heartleaf four o'clock
Family Nyctaginaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards One report says that the plant is considered poisonous, but gives no details[222].
Habitats Prairies and rich soil[222]. Often found in calcareous clay soils[274].
Range N. America - Wisconsin to Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Mirabilis nyctaginea Wild Four O


www.flickr.com/photos/8583446@N05/
Mirabilis nyctaginea Wild Four O
www.flickr.com/photos/8583446@N05/

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Mirabilis nyctaginea is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Oxybaphus nictagineus.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vulnerary

The chewed root is used as a poultice for wounds, burns, sores, sprains etc[207, 222, 257]. A tea made from the roots is also used to treat burns, fevers and to expel worms[213, 222, 257]. A tea made from the leaves or the roots is used in the treatment of bladder ailments[222]. Caution is advised in the use of this plant internally, see notes above on toxicity.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a fertile well-drained soil in full sun or part-day shade[200]. Plants flower in their first year from seed and, although they are not very hardy in Britain, they can either be grown as half-hardy annuals or the tubers can be harvested in the autumn and stored overwinter in a cool frost-free place in much the same manner as dahlias[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed remains viable for several years[196]. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Ontario, Saskatchewan (south), Alberta (south), Manitoba, British Columbia (south)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Colorado (east), Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming (east), Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico (east), Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Coahuila de Zaragoza, Sonora, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Mirabilis expansaMaukaPerennial1.0 -  LMHNM30 
Mirabilis jalapaMarvel Of Peru, Miracle Flower of Peru, Four O'ClockPerennial0.6 7-10 FLMHSNM221
Mirabilis multifloraFour O'clock Plant, Colorado four o'clockPerennial1.0 7-10  LMHSNM12 
Viola mirabiliswonder violetPerennial0.2 4-8  LMHSNM31 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Michx.

Botanical References

200274

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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