Brugmansia
angel's trumpets
South America (Andean and southeastern regions)
Overview
Brugmansia spp. is a genus of seven species of soft-wooded shrubs and small trees in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), known as angel's trumpets. Plants grow 6-20 feet (1.8-6 m) tall with an upright, multi-stemmed form and branches that fork repeatedly. The leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic, 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long, and softly hairy. The genus is defined by large pendulous trumpet-shaped flowers that hang straight down, 6-20 inches (15-50 cm) long, in white, cream, yellow, pink, and orange, many opening in the evening with a heavy fragrance. Flowering occurs in flushes from late spring until frost. All parts contain tropane alkaloids including scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine, and ingestion of any plant part can cause severe poisoning in humans and animals. Brugmansia spp. differs from the related genus Datura spp., which carries upright flowers and a herbaceous habit. The genus is now considered extinct in the wild and survives in cultivation and as naturalized escapes. Plants are frost-tender and fast-growing, with high water and fertilizer demands that match their large flowers. In temperate regions they are grown in containers and overwintered under cover.
Native Range
Brugmansia spp. originates in South America, mainly along the Andes from Colombia and Ecuador south to Chile and Argentina, with further populations in southeastern Brazil. The genus is now extinct in the wild and is known only from cultivated and naturalized plants.Suggested Uses
Grown as a container specimen on patios and terraces, as a fast tropical-effect shrub in frost-free gardens, and trained as a standard with a single clear trunk. The evening fragrance suits placement near seating areas and entryways. In cold climates plants are overwintered indoors or in a greenhouse.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 20'
Width/Spread6' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowering comes in flushes from late spring through autumn, often heaviest after warm spells. Individual trumpets last several days, and many open or intensify their fragrance in the evening, when night-flying moths visit them. Large established plants can carry hundreds of flowers in a single flush.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, cream, yellow, pink, or orangeFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Brugmansia spp. in full sun to light afternoon shade in fertile, well-drained soil kept consistently moist. Plants are heavy feeders that take a balanced fertilizer every one to two weeks through the growing season. Water frequently, since wilting is common in heat and large container specimens may need daily watering. Hardy only in zones 9-11, plants are killed by hard frost and are grown in large containers and moved under cover where winters are cold. Spider mites, whiteflies, and aphids are the common pests under glass. All parts are poisonous if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin on contact.Pruning
Plants are pruned in late winter or early spring, cutting the previous season's growth back to just above the main fork in the stems, because flowers form on new wood above that fork. They tolerate hard renewal pruning and resprout quickly. Thinning weak shoots and removing spent flowers through summer keeps the canopy open.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 15 gallons