marvel-of-Peru

9.9

A garden plant with fragrant, colorful flowers that open in late afternoon

noun
/ˈmɑrvəl əv pəˈru/

: maravilla de Perú

Each evening, the marvel-of-Peru unfurls its fragrant flowers around sundown.

Examples

I planted a marvel-of-Peru by the fence, and now its yellow flowers attract butterflies every afternoon.
The marvel-of-Peru adds bursts of color to gardens with its multi-colored blossoms.
The marvel-of-Peru blooms beautifully in my garden.
Did you see the marvels-of-Peru at the flower show?
Each evening, the marvel-of-Peru unfurls its fragrant flowers around sundown.
I planted a marvel-of-Peru by the fence, and now its yellow flowers attract butterflies every afternoon.
The marvel-of-Peru adds bursts of color to gardens with its multi-colored blossoms.

Synonyms

common four-o'clock

vsmarvel-of-Peru

7.9

A garden plant with scented flowers that open late afternoon

is the general ornamental name not tied to one region

Mirabilis jalapa

vsmarvel-of-Peru

Specialized

9.0

A garden plant with fragrant, colorful flowers that open in the late afternoon, often called four o'clock

is the everyday ornamental name gardeners use rather than the scientific term

jalapa

vsmarvel-of-Peru

Archaic

9.9

A garden plant with bright tube-shaped flowers whose dried root was used as a strong laxative

is mainly the ornamental plant known for fragrant late afternoon flowers

Surface Forms

marvel-of-Peru singular

marvels-of-Peru plural

Etymology

The word marvel-of-Peru comes from the Spanish name maravilla de Perú, where maravilla means 'wonder'. People called the plant that because its bright, multi-colored flowers open in the late afternoon and surprise people, so its name is a 'marvel' from Peru.