Bashful Four O’Clock: A Rare Nevada Native Worth Protecting
Meet the bashful four o’clock (Mirabilis pudica), one of Nevada’s most elusive native wildflowers. This charming perennial lives up to its bashful name—not only is it naturally shy in the wild, but it’s also become increasingly rare, making it a true treasure for native plant enthusiasts.
A Nevada Native with a Conservation Story
The bashful four o’clock is a native son of the Silver State, found exclusively in Nevada within the lower 48 states. As a member of the Four O’Clock family (Nyctaginaceae), this herbaceous perennial has adapted to life in some of Nevada’s most challenging landscapes. However, there’s an important conservation angle to this plant’s story.
Currently classified with a Global Conservation Status of S3, the bashful four o’clock is considered vulnerable. This means it’s either very rare throughout its range or faces other factors that make it susceptible to disappearing entirely. With typically only 21 to 100 occurrences and between 3,000 to 10,000 individuals remaining, this little four o’clock needs our help.
What Makes This Plant Special
As a forb (that’s botanist-speak for a non-woody flowering plant), the bashful four o’clock grows as a herbaceous perennial. Like its cousins in the four o’clock family, it likely produces colorful blooms that open in the late afternoon or evening—hence the four o’clock part of its name.
Unfortunately, detailed information about this specific species’ appearance, size, and growing habits is quite limited in cultivation resources. This scarcity of information actually underscores just how rare and understudied this native Nevada plant truly is.
Should You Grow Bashful Four O’Clock?
Here’s where things get interesting. While we absolutely want to encourage the cultivation of native plants, the bashful four o’clock’s vulnerable status means we need to be extra careful about how we go about it.
The Responsible Approach
If you’re interested in growing this rare Nevada native, here are the key considerations:
- Source responsibly: Only obtain plants or seeds from reputable native plant nurseries that ethically propagate their stock—never collect from wild populations
- Location matters: This plant is specifically adapted to Nevada’s unique conditions, so it may not thrive in other climates
- Conservation value: Growing rare natives in cultivation can serve as insurance populations and help preserve genetic diversity
- Research gap: By growing this plant, you might contribute valuable observations about its cultivation needs
Growing Conditions and Care
While specific cultivation information for Mirabilis pudica is limited, we can make some educated guesses based on its Nevada nativity and family characteristics:
Likely Growing Preferences
- Climate: Adapted to Nevada’s arid conditions with hot summers and cold winters
- Soil: Probably prefers well-draining, sandy or rocky soils typical of desert environments
- Water: Likely drought-tolerant once established, reflecting its desert heritage
- Sun exposure: Probably thrives in full sun conditions
Given the limited cultivation information available, growing bashful four o’clock would be somewhat experimental. This makes it an exciting choice for adventurous gardeners who want to help conserve a rare native species while potentially contributing to our understanding of its needs.
The Bottom Line
The bashful four o’clock represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. It’s a chance to grow something truly unique and help preserve a vulnerable Nevada native. However, it requires a commitment to responsible sourcing and careful stewardship.
If you’re not quite ready for the challenge of growing a rare species with limited cultivation information, consider starting with some of Nevada’s other native four o’clocks or desert wildflowers that are better established in cultivation. But if you’re up for an adventure in conservation gardening, the bashful four o’clock might just be the perfect project to connect you more deeply with Nevada’s precious native plant heritage.
