Brugmansia
brug-MAN-see-ah. Nightshade family, Solanaceae.
The five species of Brugmansia are tender shrubs or trees from South America. Once included in Datura, all bear large, pendant, trumpet-shaped flowers that usually have five pointed lobes that are curled back. Flowers are usually fragrant and are borne from late spring or early summer through fall, nearly year-round in frost-free areas. Leaves are oblong to ovate and either entire, toothed or lobed. All parts of these plants are poisonous if ingested.
How to Grow
Angel’s trumpets thrive in full sun or very light shade and rich, well drained soil. In frost-free areas - Zones 10 and 11 - grow them outdoors as shrubs or specimen plants. Where they are not hardy, set these striking plants outdoors each spring, and dig them each fall for overwintering. They also grow in very large containers or tubs, but growing in the ground yields the most spectacular plants. Feed plants, especially pot-grown ones, every two to three weeks from spring to fall, and water regularly when plants are growing and flowering actively. Dig plants in early fall, before frost, keeping as much soil around the roots as possible. Store them in a bright, cool (40° to 50°F), frost-free place, and keep them nearly dry over winter.
Plants may lose their leaves but will begin growing in spring, when temperatures warm up and watering is resumed. Prune plants as necessary in spring; they withstand hard pruning, to within several inches of the base of the plant. Repot container-grown specimens annually. Propagate Brugmansia species by seeds sown in winter or early spring and germinated at 60° to 70°F. Or take softwood or heel cuttings in summer; bottom heat speeds rooting.
B. arborea (pictured at left)
b. are-BORE-ee-ah. Common Angel's Trumpets. Also listed as B. versicolor and Datura arborea.
A 6- to 12-foot shrub or tree with fragrant, white, 6-inch-long flowers. Tender perennial.
B. x candida
b. x can-DEE-dah. Angel’s Trumpets. Formerly Datura x. candida.
A 10- to 15-foot shrub or tree with 6- to 12-inch-long trumpets that are fragrant at night. Flowers come in white, pale yellow or sometimes pink. Double-flowered forms include 'Double White' and 'Plena.' Tender perennial.
B. sanguinea (pictured above right)
b. san-GWIN-ee-ah. Red Angel's Trumpets. Also listed as B. rosei and Datura sanguinea.
A 10- to 30-foot shrub or tree with 6- to 10-inch-long, orange-red flowers that are not fragrant. Tender perennial.
B. suaveolens (pictured at right)
b. sua-vee-OH-lens. Angel’s Trumpets. Formerly Datura suaveolens.
A 10- to 15-foot shrub or tree with 8-inch-long flowers that come in white, yellow or pink and are fragrant at night. Tender perennial.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE ONLY AUTHOR'S NOTE: Brugmansia Cultivars
- 'Ruth's Peach' bears extremely fragrant trumpets that open white and fade to pale peach.
- 'Cypress Gardens' features very fragrant white flowers.
- 'Ecuador Pink' bears fragrant pink flowers with very flared edges.
- 'Sunray' features clear, lemon yellow trumpets that are fragrant.
- B. suaveolens 'Sunset' produces fragrant, peach-yellow trumpets and features variegated leaves edged in white.
- B. suaveolens 'Variegata' bears fragrant white trumpets and variegated leaves edged in cream.
For the Plant Of The Month index click here.
The above copyrighted information is adapted with permission from the "Taylor’s Guide to Annuals: How to select and grow more than 400 annuals, biennials, and tender perennials," (Houghton Mifflin, 1999, softcover) written by Barbara W. Ellis and published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. The Exclusive Online Only Author's Note comes directly from Ellis and is not included in the book.
Ellis is also the author of "Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants: A detailed, how-to-grow guide to selecting, planting, and caring for the best classic plants." (Houghton Mifflin, 1998, softcover). Country Living magazine called this comprehensive reference "The 'must-have' gardening book of the year."
For more information about these books, please visit your local bookseller.
Images provided by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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