Mirabilis Jalapa is a native of Peru and prized by many gardeners but in my home town, it is a seriously invasive weed. It smells great and is called 4 o'clock flower because the flowers open in the late afternoon.
It is genetically unusual because it can have different colored flowers on the same plant. If two different-colored plants interbreed, it is normal for only one colour to be dominant, not a mixture.
This is a hugely problematic plant where I live because it seeds prolifically and forms large drought-resistant underground tubers which are not easy to uproot. If you cut it down, it just grows again. Below is a tuber I dug up last season which is sprouting again.
This is the patch growing in the open area next to my property. I will have to cut the stems down again before it starts seeding again and spreading further. I prefer not to use herbicides, which kill everything and can pollute water sources but I may have to as it is very difficult to dig the tubers up because the ground is very stony.
In areas which receive regular snow in winter, this plant doesn't survive but where I live, It comes up every summer and keeps on spreading
hahahaha 4 o'clock flower.
What time do they close?
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They stay open at night and close the next day. This means that they are pollinated by moths
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Say WHAT!! By Moths!!!
COOL!
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Its beautiful! I would feel in paradise, meow!
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My cats do love it, they make tunnels among the stems and hide in it
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so cool!
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Have you tried cutting and then burning it to see if that gets rid of it?
At least its a pretty weed. :)
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The tubers are deep underground, fire won't touch it
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Sounds to me like beautiful but dangerous.
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Love this flowers sis <3 @nikv
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Amazing garden ! :O
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Just a jumble of invasive weeds, really
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If you have to have a garden problem, this is a beautiful one to have. Nice shots!
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I suppose so. It's like the invasion of the mutant turnips with pretty flowers
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Beautiful flower I must say, but why does it have to come with troubles?😭
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We can have the same problem here, what is native in its home land and can look so beautiful, can not only be a noxious weed, but an overwhelming pest in other countries. That root you dug up is huge.
Nice article and great pics.
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Flowers in winter delight)
Those who have snow and snowdrifts)
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Wow.....beautiful shots.Really amazing horticultural farm
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