Tsuh Yang wrote about Mirabilis jalapa; >some plants produce both yellow and pink/magenta flowers. at first, i >thought they were different plants, but actually they were from the same >one. has anyone seen this before?< The production of multi-coloured flowers from the same plant is the reason why Mirabilis is called that - mirabilis translates as marvellous, wonderful, or amazing. It may be a shortened form of Admirabilis, which was also in use for it in the 1500s & 1600s. The English name Marvel of Peru was attached by about 1600. With its diversity of colours it is easy to see why the Spanish conquistadors noticed it and brought it back from the Americas at an early date. Then its free-seeding enabled its rapid distribution in European gardens where one can imagine how greatly its abundance of bright flowers enlivened the scene. John Grimshaw Dr. John M. Grimshaw Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Tel. 01242 870567