Mirabilis jalapa Seeds | Marvel of Peru
LATIN NAME: Mirabilis jalapa
COMMON NAME: Marvel of Peru
Plant Profile
Mirabilis jalapa, better known as Marvel of Peru, is a perennial. Marvel of Peru glows trumpet-shaped, fragrant flowers toward evening, bright colours shining among heart-shaped leaves, and the whole plant carries the fine, cheerful look of the old courtyard. It is a plant of open, sunny, deep, rich, well-drained ground. The blooms are worked steadily by bees for as long as they are open. It is the sort of plant that quietly justifies the space it occupies.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the Mirabilis group, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. The upshot for anyone sowing it is reassurance — cultivated stock of this plant has a long, well-documented track record.
Uses & Benefits
Marvel of Peru brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Marvel of Peru is a cheerful, useful plant of old courtyard and study collection. It is a cheerful, useful plant of open, sunny, deep, rich, well-drained garden. Marvel of Peru seeds are happy in a rich, loamy mix kept warm and steadily moist. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Four o’clocks open their sweet-scented trumpets in the evening for night pollinators; seeds and roots are toxic, so they are enjoyed by eye and nose alone.
Growing from Seed
Marvel of Peru is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Fill a pot with a light seed compost, sow evenly on the surface, cover thinly and stand it somewhere warm, bright and evenly moist. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
Marvel of Peru repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Marvel of Peru often pair it with these related subjects: