Brugmansia
(brug-MAN-see-ah)
syn. Datura
Angel's Trumpet
SOLANACEAE
Never before have I wanted a plant more than the day I won an Angel Trumpet, known as the Charles Grimoldia.
Angel Trumpet's, in general, are not all that difficult to grow.
Although this plant is generally found growing in the Southern US or in South America, they can be grown in containers with much success.
They are grown and enjoyed because of their large trumpet - five painted flowers. Of course, the plants prefer a hot climate, well drained soil, and a sunny, sheltered spot. They are best grown as small trees or shrubs.
Their leaves are thin, large, and soft. They are evergreen or semi-evergreen.
Water
Once they start growing in the spring / summer they need lots of water. If we don't water daily (northern Florida) the lower leaves start to turn yellow and the plant droops fast. The same thing happened with ours in SC.
They should not be sitting in water, though - they need good drainage.
Propagation
Angel Trumpet are propagated by semi-ripe cuttings. Late summer is actually the best time: Soft-tip shoots of current season's growth. Cut just below a node where the leave is coming out. 3-4 inches long. Remove the leaves from the bottom third. Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone (from a garden store) and insert into a standard cutting mix (garden store) or equal parts peat (or soil) and perlite. Don't let the leaves touch the soil or each other.
If they develop, roots then fertilize every two or three weeks. Don't expect 100% success (i.e. don't' do just one).
You can collect the seeds (from the mature brown pods) and start a plant by the end of January. Sowing them individually.
Germination may take up to 6 weeks. I started three different kinds of Angel Trumpets and they are worth the wait.
Poisonous
It is important to note all parts of the plant are narcotic and poisonous.
Angel Trumpets can be enjoyed in cooler zones in containers and wintered over in greenhouses, cellars, or heated garages.
For the most part they are a tad pricey but worth the cultivation and ownership. The blooms are delightfully wonderful.
Angel Trumpets around the world.
Brugmansia
sent in by
Linda Hendricks
Hendersonville, NC
Emily: I am confused: Datura or Angel's Trumpet?
Dear Emily: Hi, I am confused, to say the least. I've been reading all the wonderful articles on the Datura page and see the plant referred to as both Angel's Trumpet, upright and downward facing, and recently read an article in my local paper referencing the Datura as being true Belladonna/Deadly Nightshade. I disagreed with my paper's report so jumped onto your website to see. Can you shed some light on my confusion, please? (This is the first year I've had a Datura just "show up" in my garden: upright, white, low growing, and, just to confuse me, within close proximity to my potted Angel's Trumpet - downward facing - AND my Trumpet Vine!
A: Indeed this is confusing.
The datura/Jimsonweed/thornapple..... in many many cases is considered a WEED. And dangerous in the fields for animals, in case they munch on it .
Those who see it as a possible enhancement in their garden cultivate it. It grows annually and returns by its readily self seeding seeds. Its bloom is white and is upward, close to the ground or two feet upwards. It blooms generally for one evening at a time. There are many blooms on this plant and it grows fast and makes wonderful seedpods for the following year. Saving the seeds and sowing in the spring or letting them fall to the ground works well either way.
The angel trumpets (a common name applied to many plants)...... is a cultivated hybrid in many cases and also native to South America. It comes in singles and doubles and many colors. It is propagated by cuttage and by seeds. The seeds germinate easily and you can get a good shrub plant (tree) in one season and get blooms. Even the cutttage will produce a bloom the first year.
In zones other than tropical or even semi-tropical they need to be protected from the winter and cool months. After all, it is tropical. It will not die back, but just stop producing the flowers. I generally drag mine in the house or the garage. Just enough to keep the frost bites away.
I also trim back the trumpets in the early spring season. I grow them in containers, I have several that I can experiment in growing them directly in the ground to see how well they "winter-over ".
The key word is TROPICAL... the trumpets need to be protected......stretching the zone on this plant may or may not work, depending how severe your winter gets. Zone 8 is borderline for the having them grow outside during the winter.
I am getting two bloom sessions from my single trumpets. Early spring and in the fall. The plant may be out of sync for some reason. My double trumpets have bloomed for two months straight.
The trumpets bloom downward like a hanging bell, the datura blooms upward. Some of the trumpets are scented.
The angle Trumpet is in the SOLANACEAE family it is also a Brugmansia
Daturas (da- TOOR-a) what you have - a stramonium is native to the tropics but widely naturalized as a weed in North America all parts are poisonous. It has been suggested that this plant should be weeded out and destroyed.
Your call.
Both are poisonous (all parts)
In my opinion all are beautiful......