Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Mirabilis multiflora is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family known by the common name Colorado four o'clock. It is native to the southwestern United States from California to Colorado and Texas, as well as far northern Mexico, where it grows in mostly dry habitat types in a number of regions. It is a perennial herb growing upright to about 80 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves are oppositely arranged on the spreading stem branches. Each fleshy leaf has an oval or rounded blade up to 12 centimeters long and is hairless or sparsely hairy. The flowers occur in leaf axils on the upper branches. Usually six flowers bloom in a bell-shaped involucre of five partly fused leafs. Each five-lobed, funnel-shaped flower is 4 to 6 centimeters wide and magenta in color.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

2 - 3 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

Purple

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Site type

Dry, rocky or sandy places

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

2 confirmed and 6 likely

Confirmed Likely

Lithariapteryx abroniaeella

Lithariapteryx jubarella

Archirhoe neomexicana

Somber Carpet

Disclisioprocta stellata