Four O'clock Plant (Mirabilis multiflora)

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Mirabilis
Life cycle: perennial
Height: 1 m
Flower type: hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

The dried root can be ground into a powder, mixed with cereal flours and used to make a bread^[6]. This bread is eaten to reduce the appetite^[6].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The root is used in the treatment of stomach complaints^[1]. A pinch of the powdered root is said to relieve hunger^[4], it can also be used after overeating to relieve the discomfort^[6]. A poultice of the powdered root can be applied to swellings^[6]. Large quantities of the root are said to cause intoxication^[1]. The root was chewed by native North American Medicine men to induce visions whilst making a diagnosis^[6].

Product or use: Hallucinogenic

Product or use: Poultice

Product or use: Stomachic

Environment

Range: Southern N. America - Texas to Colorado and Utah.
Habitat: Hillsides and mesas, often amongst rocks and shrubs^[1].
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: light shade
Water: moderate
Hardiness: Zone 8+
Soil textures: sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH: acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage: well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed remains viable for several years^[2]. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth^[3].

Cultivation

Requires a fertile well-drained soil in full sun or part-day shade^[3]. Plants flower in their first year from seed and, although they are not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c when in a suitable situation^[7], they can either be grown as half-hardy annuals or the tubers can be harvested in the autumn and stored overwinter in a cool frost-free place in much the same manner as dahlias^[3]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer^[5].

Mirabilis expansaMauka
Mirabilis jalapaMarvel Of Peru
Mirabilis nyctagineaWild Four O'clock Plant
Abronia fragransSnowball Sand Verbena

References

Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8
↩1 ↩2 ↩3
Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-309-04264-X
↩
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
↩1 ↩2 ↩3
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
↩
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
↩
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
↩