I have always had White Angel's Trumpets but lost them all in the heat wave of summer 2000. This year thanks to Tonny Hansen of Denmark I will share my blooms of an awesome variety of colors and shapes.  Also I came across two species in the wild that I just adore!  They are shown at the bottom of the page and due to an overwhelming request for my growing information I've included it at the bottom of this page.(If you are concerned about the poisonous aspects of Datura please read in the growing info below)

Peach Brugmansia


Datura - Metel Belle Blanch
"Datura wrightii Hort. ex Regel"

Peach Brugmansia

They are so delicious to

big green tomato horn worms

 


My first Angel's Trumpet, kept in container

is three times larger this year than last!

 

But they are extremely poisonous to us

Please watch pets and small children around

these seed pods, although prickly the seeds fall out.


Double Purple Datura
"Datura Metal L. var fastuosa"



Very fragrant and delicate!

A full size bloom

Datura Stramonium "Tatula"

Datura Stramonium
Small white blooms - very fragrant (same size as tatula), no photos yet of opened bloom though!
[I found about 40 plants of both growing wild, after excavation was done to start a new subdivision.]


I have fallen in love with these gorgeous trumpet blooms!
There is such variety of Datura available I would love to have every one of them.  Should you have seeds or plants you are interested in trading I would love to hear from you.  If you are interested in more Datura or Brugmansia sites, go to my links page the Scenic Route below the growing info here.

 
DATURA GROWING INFORMATION
(The info I use to grow all of my Datura's, note that I live in zone 7 of Georgia and have Dats in my gardens, mulched heavily in winter, as well as containers.  There are three sources of info listed below.  Please remember that Datura blooms point upward to the sky and have shrub type growth not to be confused with the twining vines of Moonflower - [Ipomoea] or Brugmansia, downward hanging blooms.)
 

Datura 
"Trumpet Flower" 
Datura Metel 
(info from Select Seeds Catalog)

D. metel (trumpet flower, Angel's trumpet) Native to the tropics, the trumpet flower grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Its spectacular lily like blossoms, about 10 inches long and 4 inches across the face, come in white, yellow, purple, red or pink. The flowers may be single, double or triple. 

USES. The flowers and seeds of trumpet flowers(D. Metal) contain a poisonous alkaloid called hyoscyamine as well as ATROPINE which is a muscle relaxant this is the real poison.....seeing as it stops the heart if to much is ingested.  The roots are the most poisonous, seeds second and flowers last. Children must be cautioned not to eat them. The plant will prosper in a hot, sunny location in soil that is rich and rather dry. In the frost free climates of Zones 9-10, trumpet flowers may be grown throughout the year in terrace pots as well as in the garden. 
(Thanks to Chris for the info on the Atropine)

HOW TO GROW. Start seeds indoors two or three months before the last frost is due. Set the plants in the garden 24 inches apart when all danger of frost has passed. 

Datura - Angel Trumpet
(taken from the book "From Seed to Bloom")

Bushy plants of 3-5' with bluish foliage and achingly beautiful flowers.  Blooms are 4-8" long white trumpets, some delicately edged in palest lavender, some lightly scented.  A stunning container plant. 

Sowing: 
Indoors - 2-3 months before planting out
Outdoors - Start seeds outdoors only in zones 9-10, after last frost date.,
Depth - 1/8". 

Germinating:  Time - 21-42 days
Requirements - Easy., 65-70 degrees F. 
Planting seedlings outdoors:
Time - 2-3 weeks after last frost, when temperatures remain above 45 degrees F, Spacing - 3-4'
Light - Sun to part light shade
Soil - Prefers rich and moist, will tolerate poor soil. 
Caring for plants: Easy. Water well in winter with heavy mulch outdoors, bring containers indoors for winter. 
Propagating:  Allow to self seed, or take cuttings of side shoots when temperature is above 60 Degrees F. 
 


Biltmore House and Gardens Growing Info:
(info from a Southern Living Article)

If grown in a pot, cut the plant back before the first frost.  Leave the tree form branching structure intact, but remove smaller limbs.  If placed in a green house it will begin new shoots and bloom in a few weeks.  If no greenhouse is available move into basement or garage to encourage it to go dormant, making sure temps stay above freezing.  Reduce watering to the bare minimum during in the winter about once per month and don't be surprised if all the leaves fall off. 

When you are sure you've seen the last frost in spring move the plant back outside to a bright sunny spot.  Fertilize generously with water soluble 20-20-20 every other week.  Alternate feeding with a liquid 15-16-17 such as Peter's brand or Super Bloom (my choice), containing trace elements. 

If grown in the garden you'll need to cut the plants back to the ground in autumn before the first frost.  Pile leaves and pine straw on the stub and hope for the best.  A thick blanket of mulch should keep the roots alive through the winter in most Southern gardens, though container plants make the best choice in the middle and upper south where the ground freezes.  White plants are hardier than colored plants.

Hope you enjoyed your visit and thanks for watching my garden grow!

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