Mirabilis alipes
Winged four o'clock
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Mirabilis alipes (Winged four o'clock) is a native California subshrub in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by glaucous appearance, large flowers, and bract fusion.
Winged four o'clock is a California native perennial found in the Panamint Range of the desert mountains on dry slopes and flats at elevations of 1,200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces magenta and creamy white flowers in funnel-shaped perianths 15 to 19 millimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 20 to 40 centimeters tall that are glaucous and sparsely hairy, it develops fleshy, broadly ovate to round leaves. Its leaves are 2 to 7 centimeters long with minimal hair and emerge from upper stem axils. The fruit is an elliptic seed 5.5 to 7 millimeters long with 10 slender tan ribs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinguished by glaucous appearance, large flowers, and bract fusion
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, flats
Elevation: 1200-2000 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo
Outside California: to western Colorado
Bloom period
Mirabilis alipes blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Nicotiana: Mirabilis flowers sit in a cup of 5 green bracts; Nicotiana has true tubular flowers with 5-lobed petals.; vs Allionia: Mirabilis has 5 bracts and symmetrical flowers; Allionia has 3 bracts and 3 lopsided flowers.; vs Phacelia: Mirabilis flowers sit in green bract cups; Phacelia has coiled clusters with 5 separate petals and hairy leaves.; vs Petunia: Mirabilis has colorful sepals in bract cups; Petunia has fused true petals forming a funnel with capsule fruits.; vs Pelargonium: Mirabilis has opposite leaves and flowers in bract cups; Pelargonium has alternate leaves and 5 separate petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mirabilis alipes native to California?
Yes. Mirabilis alipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mirabilis alipes bloom?
Mirabilis alipes blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Mirabilis alipes grow?
Mirabilis alipes occurs in Mono, Inyo, at elevations of 1200-2000 m.
What plant family does Mirabilis alipes belong to?
Mirabilis alipes is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Mirabilis.
What habitat does Mirabilis alipes grow in?
Mirabilis alipes grows in dry slopes, flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.