Mirabilis nyctaginea
Heart leaf four o'clock
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Mirabilis nyctaginea (Heart leaf four o'clock) is a non-native California herb in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by non-native status, heart-shaped leaves, and growth habit.
Heart leaf four o'clock is a naturalized perennial found in eastern Southern California, especially San Bernardino County, in disturbed places at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering with white or pale pink perianths approximately 10 millimeters long, this plant produces delicate funnel-shaped blooms. Growing with erect stems to 1 meter tall that are glabrous to slightly hairy, it develops distinctive ovate to heart-shaped leaves up to 10 centimeters long. Its leaves are petioled or nearly sessile, with a relatively smooth surface and ovate to cordate shape. The fruit is a broadly club-shaped structure 4 to 6 millimeters long, covered in hair and featuring five prominent, wrinkled ribs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by non-native status, heart-shaped leaves, and growth habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 400 m
California counties: San Bernardino
Outside California: native to central United States, northern Mexico
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 nyctaginea native to California?
No. Mirabilis nyctaginea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
Where in California does Mirabilis nyctaginea grow?
Mirabilis nyctaginea occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of < 400 m.
What plant family does Mirabilis nyctaginea belong to?
Mirabilis nyctaginea is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Mirabilis.
What habitat does Mirabilis nyctaginea grow in?
Mirabilis nyctaginea grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Mirabilis sp. — Four o'clock
- Mirabilis tenuiloba — Slender-lobed four o'clock
- Mirabilis albida — Dwarf four o'clock
- Mirabilis alipes — Winged four o'clock
- Mirabilis coccinea — Red four o'clock
- Mirabilis greenei — Greene's four o'clock
- Nyctaginaceae sp. — Four o'clock family
- Tripterocalyx crux-maltae — Kellogg's sand-verbena
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.