Mirabilis greenei
Greene's four o'clock
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Mirabilis greenei (Greene's four o'clock) is a native California herb in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by geographically distinctive with large multi-flowered clusters.
Greene's four o'clock is a native perennial with a rare status (CNPS 4.2) found in eastern Klamath Ranges and northern and central North Coast Ranges Interior in dry slopes and flats at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces magenta flowers 4 to 5 centimeters long in bell-shaped involucres with distinctive bracts. Growing 40 to 80 centimeters tall with ascending to erect stems that are minimally hairy, it has a delicate and somewhat sparse appearance. Its leaves are fleshy and round to ovate, measuring 3 to 10 centimeters long, with sparse or absent hairs. The fruit is approximately 7 millimeters long, broadly club-shaped, and bluntly 5-angled with sparse short hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; geographically distinctive with large multi-flowered clusters
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, flats
Elevation: < 1000 m
Bloom period
Mirabilis greenei blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 greenei native to California?
Yes. Mirabilis greenei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mirabilis greenei bloom?
Mirabilis greenei blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Mirabilis greenei belong to?
Mirabilis greenei is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Mirabilis.
Is Mirabilis greenei rare or endangered?
Mirabilis greenei carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
What habitat does Mirabilis greenei grow in?
Mirabilis greenei grows in dry slopes, flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.