Erect perennial herb to 1 m tall with tuberous rootstock, often grown as an annual. Lower leaves stalked, ovate, entire, more or less hairless, mostly 4-8 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, pointed at the tip, rounded to heart-shaped at the base. Flowers in terminal clusters of 3-7 flowers with only the central one developing, variously coloured or variegated, opening late in the day, scented. Floral tube mostly 3-5 cm long, surrounded by 5 sepal-like bracts. Stamens 5. Fruit dark brown to black, 5-angled, 7-10 mm long.
Tropical America
An occasional garden escape. Not known to occur in the wild but possibly originating from Mexico.
Trumpet-shaped multi-coloured flowers.
Source: (1997). Nyctaginaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
