Mirabilis jalapa

Mirabilis jalapa Four o'clock plant

Don Diego

This pretty plant, native to South America, has naturalised in lots of tropical and temperate areas, as it has here in places. Once you have it, the roots will become enormous and it is difficult to eradicate. Some plants have different coloured blooms on the same stem. They do not flower until late afternoon, hence the name, and are highly perfumed. They are pollinated by long tongued moths. It is often mistaken for the Tobacco plant, Nicotiana which is an annual. This is a perennial plant.