Beauty-of-the-night (Mirabilis jalapa, Sp. Pl.: 177 (1753))

Family: Nyctaginaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 177 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Mirabilis

Vegetable: False

Observations: Mexico to C. America

Description

Beauty-of-the-night, scientifically named Mirabilis jalapa, is a captivating and enigmatic plant beloved by many for its striking appearance and enchanting nighttime blooms. Originally described in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, Beauty-of-the-night thrives primarily in the warm and temperate climates ranging from Mexico to Central America.

This plant is a member of the Nyctaginaceae family, a group distinguished for their unique flowering habits and vibrant colors. True to its common name, the flowers of Beauty-of-the-night open in the late afternoon and remain open throughout the night, only to close again by the next morning. This nocturnal blooming pattern not only adds an element of mystery to gardens and natural landscapes but also plays a significant role in attracting nocturnal pollinators like moths and bats.

The flowers of Mirabilis jalapa are particularly noted for their kaleidoscope of colors, often appearing in distinct shades of pink, red, yellow, white, and magenta. Interestingly, a single plant can produce flowers of different colors, and even individual flowers can display multiple hues. This diversity is attributed to the plant’s complex genetic background, which makes it a fascinating subject of study for botanists and horticulturists alike.

Beyond its ornamental value, Beauty-of-the-night has been embraced in traditional medicine across its native range. It is often used in folk remedies for treating a variety of ailments, highlighting the plant’s significance beyond mere aesthetics. Despite its medicinal uses, it is important to approach the plant with caution, as parts of it can be toxic if ingested.

In addition to its medicinal and ornamental uses, Mirabilis jalapa is also relatively easy to cultivate, making it a popular choice for gardeners. It grows well in well-drained soil and can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. Its resilience to various environmental conditions and its low-maintenance nature contribute to its widespread cultivation in gardens across the world.

In conclusion, Beauty-of-the-night, with its vibrant, diverse blossoms and nocturnal allure, is much more than just a beautiful plant. It is a botanical wonder that bridges the gap between aesthetics and utility, offering both visual delight and practical benefits to those who cultivate and study it.

Common Names

Eng: beauty-of-the-night, common four o’clock, common four-o’clock, false jalap, four-o’clock, marvel of peru, marvel-of-peru, four o’clock, beauty of the night, nachtschone, morning rose
Ita: bella di notte comune, bella di notte
Fra: belle-de-nuit, merveille du pérou
Spa: don diego de noche, arrebolera, bella de noche, boas-noites, buenas noches, buenas tardes, don diego, don pedro, dondiego, dondiego de noche, donjuán de noche, eucalipto azul, falsa jalapa, flor de nit, flor de panamá, hierba triste, jalapa, llampedro, maravilla de perú, maravilla de noche, meravella de nit, mirabajà, periquitos, sanpedros, trompetilla, tumba vaquero
Deu: gewöhnliche wunderblume, mexiko-wunderblume, wunderblume
Mlt: hummejr
Dan: vidunderblomst
Por: arrebique, boa-morte, boa-noite, boas-noites, bom-dia, bonina, jalapa-bastarda, maravilha, maravilhas-do-peru, munuminha, suspiros
Ell: deilino
Hun: nagy csodatölcsér
Ces: nocenka zahradní
Ara: sheb al-leil
Swe: underblomma
Afr: vieruurtjie
Nld: nachtschone, vier uur bloem
Nno: mirakelblom
Nob: mirakelblomst
En: Beauty-of-the-night, Four-o’clock, Marvel-of-Peru, False jalap, Marvel of Peru, Four o’clock flower, COMMON FOUR O’CLOCK, Common four-o’clock, Marvelous four o’clock, Kederat, Nujjhâ, Four o’clock, Beauty of the Night, Nachtschone, Morning rose, 4 O’ Clock Plant, Austin Chalk Four-o’clock, Bonina, Four o’clock umbrella-wort, Garden four-o’clock
Af: Vieruurtjie
Ar: Sheb al-leil, شب الليل, Shab al-lyl
Hy: Գիշերածին
As: গধূলিগোপাল
Eu: Gau-lore
Be: Мірабіліс начакветкавая
Bn: সন্ধ্যামালতী
Bg: Нощна красавица
My: မဉ္ဇူပန်းပင်
Ca: Flor de nit, Mirabajà, Sant Pere
Zh: Zi mo li, 紫茉莉
Cs: Nocenka zahradní
Da: Vidunderblomst
Nl: Nachtschone, Vier uur bloem
Fi: Ihmekukka, Mökinihmekukka
Fr: Belle-de-nuit, Merveille du Pérou, Herbe de quatre heures, Faux-jalape
Ka: Გულისაბა
De: Vieruhrblume, Wunderblume, Gewöhnliche Wunderblume, Mexiko-Wunderblume
El: Νυχτολούλουδο, Deilino
Ht: Zèb katre
He: ז’ילאפה של מרביליס
Hi: गुल अब्बास
Hu: Nagy csodatölcsér
Id: Bunga pukul empat
It: Bella di notte, Bella di notte comune, Bella-di-notte comune
Ja: Oshiroi-bana
Jv: Kembang mekar sore
Kn: ಸಂಜೆ ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ
Ko: 분꽃
Ml: നാലുമണിച്ചെടി
Mt: Hummejr
Mr: गुलबक्षी
Ne: ल्वाङकसानी
Nb: Mirakelblomst
Nn: Mirakelblom
Fa: لاله عباسی
Pl: Dziwaczek Jalapa, Dziwaczek Peruwiański
Pt: Bonina, Maravilha, Munuminha, Belas-noites, Jalapa, Arrebique, Boa-morte, Boa-noite, Boas-noites, Bom-dia, Jalapa-bastarda, Maravilhas-do-peru, Suspiros
Pt-br: Maravilha
Ro: Noptița
Ru: Ночная красавица
Sr: Ноћурак
Si: හෙන්දිරික්කා
Es: Buenas tardes, Dondiego de Noche, Donpedros, Periquitos, Don Diego de noche, Arrebolera, Bella de noche, Boas-noites, Buenas noches, Don diego, Don pedro, Dondiego, Donjuán de noche, Eucalipto azul, Falsa jalapa, Flor de nit, Flor de panamá, Hierba triste, Jalapa, Llampedro, Maravilla de Perú, Maravilla de noche, Meravella de nit, Mirabajà, Sanpedros, Trompetilla, Tumba vaquero, Maravilla, San Pedro, Mirabilis jalapa, Clavellina, Hoja de Xalapa, Bailarina
Sv: Underblomma
Zh-tw: 紫茉莉
Tg: Гули шому саҳар
Ta: அந்திமந்தாரை
Te: చంద్రకాంత పుష్పం
Th: บานเย็น
Tr: Akşamsefası
Ur: گل سہ پہری
Vi: Hoa phấn
: Marvel of peru

Synonyms

• Nyctago versicolor (Salisb.)
• Nyctago hortensis (Dum.Cours.)
• Mirabilis jalapa f. eujalapa (Heimerl)
• Nyctago jalapae ((L.) DC.)

Distribution

• Belize (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Desventurados Is. (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Kuwait (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Tuvalu (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Dec 11, 2018 by Rodrigo Alfredo Sierpe Bustamante (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 26, 2017 by Linda Lawliss (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 15, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 2, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 11, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 11, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 11, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 24, 2021 by Anthony Dounié (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by De Vincentis Davide (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by De Vincentis Davide (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 25, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2020 by Myriam Chavel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by De Vincentis Davide (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 22, 2019 by Laure Brision (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 12, 2022 by Villena Rojas Marcelo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2018 by Bar Szu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by Mallol Camprubí Albert (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2018 by Bar Szu (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 12, 2022 by Marjolene Rose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Paul (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2020 by Myriam Chavel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 10, 2021 by Joseph Dupont (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 5, 2016 by Oliveira Luciana (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3086240)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:162591-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Mirabilis jalapa L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb, Subshrub

Growth