How much sun does Wild Four O'clock need?

Wild Four O'clock grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Wild Four O'clock bloom?

Wild Four O'clock blooms in June, July, August, and September.

Where is Wild Four O'clock native?

Wild Four O'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea) is native to AL, AR, AZ, CA and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does Wild Four O'clock attract?

Wild Four O'clock draws bees, moths, and hummingbirds.

Is Wild Four O'clock HOA-friendly?

Wild Four O'clock takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Wild Four O'clock

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Mirabilis nyctaginea

Last reviewed: October 2026

Toxicity unknown

Wild Four O'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

48"–60" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 33 more states

Pollinators

bees, moths, hummingbirds

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Wild Four O'clock.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

North American Deserts Northwestern Forested Mountains Southern Rockies High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau East Central Texas Plains South Central Plains Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Eastern Temperate Forests Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Heartleaf four o'clock is a prairie wildflower that produces small, tubular pink or magenta flowers that open in late afternoon and evening. This drought-tolerant perennial forms a bushy clump with heart-shaped leaves and blooms continuously from summer through early fall. The plant goes dormant in winter, dying back to the ground before returning in spring.

In an HOA neighborhood

Wild Four O'clock takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Looks weedy and informal compared to typical landscaping
Dies back completely in winter leaving bare ground
May self-seed and appear in unwanted locations

Wildlife value

The evening-opening flowers attract night-flying moths and sphinx moths, while bees visit during early morning hours before blooms close. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Wild Four O'clock need?: Wild Four O'clock grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Wild Four O'clock bloom?: Wild Four O'clock blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Wild Four O'clock native?: Wild Four O'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea) is native to AL, AR, AZ, CA and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Wild Four O'clock attract?: Wild Four O'clock draws bees, moths, and hummingbirds.
Is Wild Four O'clock HOA-friendly?: Wild Four O'clock takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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