Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa
Wishbone bush
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa (Wishbone bush) is a native California subshrub in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by reflexed hairs and branching pattern.
Wishbone bush is a California native perennial found in the Mojave Desert and White and Inyo Mountains in rocky places at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from February to June, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in bell-shaped involucres 5 to 6 millimeters long, with a perianth 8 to 12 millimeters wide. Growing with branched stems covered in short, reflexed hairs and occasional glandular hairs, it forms a distinctive shrubby structure. Its leaves are small, measuring 0.5 to 3.5 centimeters long, and are also covered with short reflexed hairs. The fruit is nearly spherical with 5 to 10 visible lines, adding to the plant's unique texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinguished by reflexed hairs and branching pattern
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky places
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Mono, Fresno, Lassen
Outside California: Oregon, to Utah, Arizona, northwestern Mexico
Bloom period
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa blooms Feb-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 laevis var. retrorsa native to California?
Yes. Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa bloom?
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa blooms Feb-Jun.
Where in California does Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa grow?
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Mono and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa belong to?
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Mirabilis.
What habitat does Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa grow in?
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa grows in Rocky places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Mirabilis laevis var. villosa — Wishbone bush
- Mirabilis linearis var. linearis — Narrow leaf four o'clock
- Mirabilis multiflora — Colorado four o'clock
- Mirabilis multiflora var. glandulosa — Colorado four o'clock
- Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens — Colorado four o'clock
- Mirabilis nyctaginea — Heart leaf four o'clock
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.