Bloomipedia
Wishbone bush (Mirabilis laevis)
Photo: Alan Prather via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Wishbone bush

Mirabilis laevis

Native in the lower 48

Wishbone bush is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in January–May.

5states
14,734CA sightings*
16,047U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Mirabilis laevis, the desert wishbone-bush, is a recently redefined species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family. Distribution is in the Southwestern United States and northwest Mexico.

  • It belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 14,734 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #47 among the 110 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist

Wishbone bush gift ideas

Handmade wishbone bush gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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    Wishbone bush art print

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When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in January–May.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,839 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records wishbone bush in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura.

More California flowers

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California poppy

Eschscholzia californica

★ CA state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–July
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

California buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: January–December
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: May–September

Sources