Mirabilis jalapa – Nighttime Surprise Artist

During the day, it appears inconspicuous, but at night, the Mirabilis jalapa unfolds its full splendor. Besides a pleasant fragrance, it sometimes presents different flower colors on just one plant!

She is the "Lady of the Night" (dame de noce) or also the "Beauty of the Night" (belle de nuit). This places her among a variety of plants that only reveal their beauty to night owls. Nor is she the only one that spoils the nocturnal garden with a wonderful scent. She likely earned her reputation as a Mirabilis jalapa due to her unusual display of colors.

The Marvel of Peru captivates with a genetic peculiarity: it can bear different colored flowers on a single plant. Thus, you can find blossoms that are half red and half yellow. On other flowers, the colors blend in a graceful pattern. Up to five different flower colors can emerge on just one plant! Of course, there are also single-colored Marvel of Peru flowers. These usually bloom in yellow, red, or white.

The Marvel of Peru belongs to the genus Mirabilis, which can be translated as "wonderful." It's commonly known by its botanical name Mirabilis jalapa, although its scent suggests it might be a hybrid with Mirabilis longifolia.

This perennial grows from a tuber and can reach up to 100 centimeters (about 39 inches) in height, making it a great choice as a solitary plant. However, its small, delicate flowers also fit perfectly into a garden ensemble.

The Marvel of Peru not only grows tall but also spreads wide. Because of this, it needs some space and should be planted with a distance of up to 70 centimeters (about 27 inches) between plants.

This wonder of nature has nothing to hide—not even from the sun. The Marvel of Peru thrives in a fully sunny, warm, and sheltered location, developing a full bloom from June to October.

It prefers nutrient-rich and sandy soil. You can further enhance its abundant flowering with a little liquid fertilizer, and removing withered flower heads also helps.

This perennial doesn't tolerate wet roots well. Therefore, if you're growing the Marvel of Peru in a pot or container, give it a drainage layer to allow watering to drain properly. It does need plenty of water; in fact, during its growth period, it might even be beneficial to water it twice daily.