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Mirabilis Night beauty is an unusual plant that attracts with its bright flowers and strong aroma. The flower is unpretentious to growing conditions and pleases with flowering throughout the summer and autumn.
Description
Mirabilis jalapa or Night Beauty is a representative of the Mirabilis flower genus. These are perennial herbaceous plants brought from Mexico. Under natural conditions, the flower grows in tropical forests. Today it is successfully grown in temperate climates.
Mirabilis is often grown as an annual. In cool regions, when winter sets in, the above-ground part of Mirabilis dies. The tubers are saved to grow a flower for next year.
The height of the bush ranges from 30 cm to 1 m. Mirabilis stems are powerful, fleshy, erect or creeping. The root is thin, tap-type. The plant forms tubers that help withstand drought and cold snaps.
The leaves of Mirabilis Night Beauty are dark green, simple, oblong, pointed at the ends. Most of the leaves are located at the top of the shoots. Mirabilis flowers are solitary, grow in corymbose inflorescences, and are funnel-shaped, up to 2.5 cm in size.
The color of mirabilis depends on the variety.One bush can produce flowers in various shades from orange to purple. Often there are specimens with multi-colored petals.
The flower gets its name from the Latin word “mirabilis”, which translates as “amazing”. It is called the night beauty because it blooms at night.
Mirabilis flowers bloom after 16.00 and close only at dawn. In cloudy weather, the buds bloom during the day. The plant emits a subtle pleasant aroma.
After Mirabilis blooms, a large dark brown fruit is formed. Each box contains one seed. After collection, the shelf life of planting material is up to 3 years.
Photo of Mirabilis Night Beauty:
Application
Mirabilis is used in landscape design for single planting or creating multi-flowered flower beds. Tall varieties serve as hedges, while low-growing plants are planted to decorate borders and lawns.
Mirabilis grows well in a flowerpot or flowerpot. In a flowerbed it is planted in the center or next to the fence. The bush grows quickly and fills the free space, and can oppress other plants.
Mirabilis Night Beauty - looks spectacular in combination with certain plants:
- daisies;
- chamomile;
- marigold;
- lavender;
- lobularia.
It is best to plant mirabilis together with low-growing and creeping flowers. Against the background of roses, dahlias, peonies and other large-flowered plants, mirabilis gets lost and looks less impressive.
Mirabilis leaves are suitable for human consumption. The flowers contain pigments that change the color of food.They are used to make a crimson dye for coloring jelly and cakes.
Mirabilis tubers have a laxative effect on the stomach. A decoction of the leaves is effective in treating purulent inflammations. The seeds are poisonous.
Main varieties
You can determine the variety of mirabilis by the height of the bush and the shade of the flowers. When planting 2 or more varieties, cross-pollination occurs and varietal qualities are lost.
Red lollipop
Plant 90 cm high with smooth powerful shoots. The leaves are oblong oval in shape. The flowers reach 6 cm and are scarlet in color. Increased resistance to diseases.
Tea Time Red
Mirabilis Tea Time Red is a dense, spherical bush. The stems are pale green in color and subject to branching. The leaves are elongated, smooth and much darker than the shoots.
The variety produces deep pink flowers. The variety remains resistant to temperature fluctuations and fungal diseases. Mirabilis blooms in summer and lasts until frost sets in. The variety is suitable for growing in cool climates.
Photo of Mirabilis flower Night Beauty variety Tea Time Red:
Elvira
The Elvira variety is a rounded shrub, the height of individual shoots reaches 1 m. The leaves are dark green, elongated, with pointed tips.
Mirabilis Elvara stands out for its large flowers, growing up to 4 cm. The color is variegated: white, yellow, purple.
Photo of Mirabilis Night Beauty variety Elvira:
Iolanta
The Iolanta variety is a spherical bush, reaching a height of 0.5 m. The shoots are powerful, branching at the top.
The flowers have an original variegated color in the form of stripes.The first flowers appear at the end of June, the next ones - before the onset of winter cold.
Salmon
The Salmon variety is grown as an annual. Mirabilis bushes reach 80 cm in height, flowers up to 25 mm in diameter. Flowering begins in June and continues until September. The flowers are salmon-colored, with star-shaped crimson streaks in the center.
Photo of Mirabilis flower Night Beauty variety Salmon:
Growing
Mirabilis Night Beauty is grown from seeds. The seedling method is more reliable. In cold climates, they will sprout at home, after which they are transferred to a permanent place.
Seedling method
Mirabilis seeds are planted indoors in March-April. Pre-prepare peat cups to avoid picking the plants. The substrate can be obtained by mixing turf soil, peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1:0.5.
The procedure for planting mirabilis seedlings:
- Seeds are soaked in warm water for a day to stimulate germination.
- The cups are filled with prepared soil and watered generously.
- Place 2 mirabilis seeds in each container and sprinkle them with a thin layer of soil.
- Plantings are sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle.
- The containers are covered with film and left in a room at a temperature of 18-20°C.
When shoots appear, the containers are moved to the light. When 2 leaves develop, the strongest plant is left in the cup. Mirabilis is transferred to the ground in May into prepared holes and watered abundantly.
When the seedlings reach 15 cm, they are transplanted into larger containers. After picking, they are fed with complex fertilizer.
Planting in open ground
Mirabilis Night Beauty prefers open areas warmed by the sun.The flower develops well on clay and loamy soils fertilized with lime. In acidic soil, the plant does not develop and dies.
Mirabilis seeds are planted in open areas at the end of April. Furrows 3 cm deep are pre-prepared. Seeds are placed in 8 cm increments, covered with soil and watered.
The mirabilis planting site is covered with a non-woven fabric until shoots emerge. Plants are thinned out so that they do not interfere with each other.
Flower care
Mirabilis Night Beauty is easy to care for, since the flower is undemanding to growing conditions. In hot weather, water the flower garden and loosen the soil. For abundant flowering, the plant is fed with organic fertilizers.
Watering
Mirabilis flowers Night beauty tolerates lack of moisture and drought well. If the dry period is prolonged, this negatively affects the formation of buds.
Water is used from barrels after it has settled and warmed up. Mirabilis is watered at the root in the morning or evening. After watering, be sure to loosen the soil and remove weeds.
Top dressing
Mirabilis is fed 2-3 times during the summer. You can use both organic and mineral fertilizers. It is not recommended to use fresh organic matter; it is better to add compost.
Mirabilis feeding scheme:
- before the formation of buds;
- in midsummer;
- in late summer to stimulate flowering.
In spring, nitrogen-based fertilizers are used: ammonium nitrate or urea. Add 10 g of substance to a 10-liter bucket of water. In summer, a complex flower fertilizer with a minimum nitrogen content is applied. Mirabilis is watered with a solution at the root.
Trimming
In summer, fading mirabilis inflorescences are trimmed to stimulate the formation of new buds. There is no need to trim the shoots.
In autumn the bushes are cut down at the roots. Mirabilis tubers can be used for planting next year. In the fall, they are dug up and placed in a container with peat. Tubers are stored at a temperature of +5°C.
If Mirabilis is grown on the balcony, then the tubers are left in the pot. The above-ground part of the plant is cut off, and the containers are put into the basement. Water them every 2 months to keep them from drying out. In spring, tubers are planted in an open area or in a pot.
Protection from diseases
Mirabilis Night Beauty flowers are disease resistant and are rarely attacked by pests. With constant exposure to moisture, the plant suffers from root rot. It is determined by the withering of leaves and early shedding of buds.
Root rot cannot be treated. The affected plant is dug up and removed from the site. The soil is treated with a solution of the drug Fundazol.
When overwatered, rusty spots appear on the leaves of Mirabilis. This indicates the spread of the fungus. The affected stems and leaves are torn off, and the flower garden is sprayed with fungicides.
Conclusion
Mirabilis is notable for blooming at night. The variety is chosen depending on the shade of the inflorescences. The plant is resistant to drought and does not tolerate stagnant moisture. Mirabilis is propagated by seeds, which are sprouted at home or immediately planted in the soil. The flower is ideal for decorating a recreation area in a summer cottage.
