Common Name: Marvel Of Peru

General Information

Mirabilis jalapa is an erect herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it can grow up to 60cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world[]. It has a long history of cultivation, being grown as a medicinal plant by the Aztecs prior to the Spanish conquest[].
Mirabilis jalapa is widely cultivated as an ornamental. It often self-sows freely and is very deep rooted, it has become widely naturalized as a weed in many countries from the temperate zone to the tropics[].

Known Hazards

The seeds and the rots are reported to cause digestive disturbances[].

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Nicaragua to Guatemala and north to northern Mexico

Habitat

A weed in waste or cultivated ground; at elevations up to 2,500 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Mirabilis jalapa is a plant mainly of the subtropical zone, but is widely cultivated and has escaped and can now bee found established in many countries of the world from the warm temperate zone to the tropics. The roots of established plants can survive winter temperatures down to -5°c[].
Succeeds in almost any ordinary garden soil[]. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil in a warm, sheltered position in full sun or part day shade[]. The plant can also be grown as an annual, flowering freely in its first year of growth[].
Plants can self-sow freely in warmer areas (these seedlings can be easily transplanted) and they can become a weed in such situations due to their deep rooting habit[].
The flowers are sweetly scented and do not open until the afternoon[].
The young growth is particularly susceptible to aphis infestation[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Tender young leaves - cooked as a vegetable[, , ]. An emergency food, only eaten when all else fails[].

An edible crimson dye is obtained from the flowers[, , , ]. It is used for colouring cakes and jellies[].

The seed is crushed and used as a pepper substitute[, , ].

Medicinal

The root is aphrodisiac, diuretic and purgative. It is used in the treatment of dropsy[, , , , ]. A paste of the root is applied as a poultice to treat scabies and muscular swellings[]. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, indigestion and fevers[]. The powdered root, mixed with corn flour (Zea mays) is baked and used in the treatment of menstrual disorders[].

The leaves are diuretic[]. They are used to reduce inflammation[]. A decoction of them is used to treat abscesses[]. The leaf juice is used to treat wounds[].

Other Uses

The powdered seed is used as a cosmetic[, , ].

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[].
Division in spring as the plant comes into growth[].