First of all, let me send out a big high-five to all of this year’s Blotanical winners and a big thank you to everyone who voted for my little Texan blog. You seriously warmed my heart, and I’m a very happy blogger. It was great fun, and I’m thrilled to have been able to vote for some incredibly awesome blogs out there! And big kudos to Stuart for making Blotanical such a great community and resource.
Now then… I need help! Back in the wild portion of my backyard, I’ve got a pretty little plant growing and I don’t know what it is. And by pretty, I recognize that it’s probably not a Texas native (oh, I’m kidding — you KNOW I think all our natives are pretty — this one just looks quite out of place — exotic). I’m giving it my infamous wary eye, as in “you sure are lovely, but if you are here because you are an invasive, you picked the wrong yard to be in.”
I’ve been waiting and waiting to get a decent picture of an open bloom, but they’re refusing to do more than stay in a crumpled state. So I stopped waiting and got the camera. It looks like it’s some sort of pink honeysuckle, but the leaves look a little different from the pictures of honeysuckle I looked at online. It’s growing as a shrub.
Here I opened up a bloom, and it’s just got to be a honeysuckle. Can anyone tell me the plant name and possibly variety? EDIT: The verdict is in, and it’s a Four O’Clock (Mirabilis multiflora)– thank you to everyone who identified it for me.
I saw a little native bee trying to figure out how to get into the blooms, but they wouldn’t even budge for him.
EDIT: Upon further inspection, four o’clocks might not be Texas natives but it’s distributed throughout the state and considered native to U.S. I’m going to let it do its thing, until something or someone persuades me to pull it. And the blooms finally opened — here’s a nighttime picture (sorry for the horrible flash; I ran out in the dark while trying to unload groceries). They certainly didn’t open at 4 o’clock!
Meredith, it was really a tough competition in the awards and your blog was really missed by inches lolz. i know you are as sure as me that people love your blog (just like they love mine :P). i dont know why i am getting this feeling that next year your blog along with mine will just conquer the awards 😛
now about this unknown plant, it does look like honysuckle but i do not think the bloom conforms to that. but blooms are lovely for sure.
It looks like a four-o’clock. The leaves and flowers look the same as mine. Mine are yellow, but that’s what they look like as well. I’ve never actually seen the darned things all the way open!
Hi Meredith, I agree with what Khabbab said, your blog rocks! It is hard to tell without seeing an open bloom, but I am guessing a four o’clock? Don’t know the latin name for that, but the leaves and flower form look like it could be that. 🙂
Frances
You mean, it might be… native? (does a little happy dance) Oh I wish it would open its blooms for a definite look. I’m looking online right now. Thanks, Leah and Frances!
Meredith, I just want you to know that you have a great blog and I like your writing style. I too agree with what Khabbab said. I can’t help you with this flower but I love its pink colour.
Meredith, it looks like a four o’clock to me too. I don’t know if it’s native to central Texas or not.
Hi there,
I have one of these in my garden it shows pink, yellow and white flowers, but are any open when I need a photo?
They are four o’clocks, check out these websites
http://www.floridata.com/ref/M/mira_jal.cfm
http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/giam/plants_and_grasses/flowering_plants/four_oclocks.html
99% sure it’s a 4 O’clock. As for native or not…we studied and collected it as part of a native plants botany course that I took at UT, so I’d say that you could probably say yes.
Well, it qualifies as close enough for me. I read that it’s a spreader, but it’s in the wild portion of my yard, so it might as well do its thing. I’m happy I don’t have to pluck it. Thank you all for the info!
It bloomed! Just had to wait until dark — I added a new picture to the blog entry!
I thought it was a four o’clock. Glad I was right. No, they don’t bloom at four o’clock. Their bloom time can be undependable. But when they bloom they are really nice.
See? This just proves that I’m still a newbie gardener. Oh sure, some plants are growing in my garden, but I’m going to milk this newbie status for as long as I can!
Meredith, hugs and congratulations to you!
Hi Thanks for visiting my blog.
You have a realy interesting blog here and it is so nice to visit gardens all round the world.
Your mystery plant looks nice. I believe a weed is only a plant that you don’t want growing where it is growing.
Darn, I missed it! I love plant ID competitions. Nice pumpkin ball, hee, hee.
even we have these on the side yard by the a/c and trash cans, they come from the niceyardneighbors. I love them and water them.
What a delight to find this little surprise growing in your garden! It looks like a beauty! I haven’t seen FOUR O’CLOCKS here, but it looks like a wonderful plant. Love your blog!
I grow Four o’clocks every year and love them. But I know them as Mirabilis Jalapa – ???