Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens

Colorado four o'clock

Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Colorado four o'clock is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, southern San Joaquin Valley, eastern Peninsular Ranges, White and Inyo Mountains, and Desert regions in dry, rocky or sandy places at elevations of 50 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces magenta to pink flowers in clusters that open late in the day. Growing with spreading stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall, it forms a robust and somewhat sprawling habit. Its leaves are ovate to broadly lance-shaped, opposite along the stem, with soft, pubescent surfaces that give the variety its distinctive texture. The fruit features slender tan ribs alternating with interrupted brown lines, creating an intricate surface pattern on its seed covering.

Habitat: Dry, rocky or sandy places

Bloom period: Apr-Aug

Elevation: 50-2100 m

Bioregions: s SNF, s SnJV, e PR, W&ampI, D

California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Inyo, Madera, Mono, Tulare, Ventura, Santa Barbara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.