Datura or Brugmansia
Datura is a very heavily flowering plant that has received a fair bit of press for its hallucinogenic properties
What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between a Datura and a Brugmansia? Well, they’re both now botanically considered to be Brugmansia (there’s no more “official” name of Datura). But the flowering difference is that Datura have mostly erect or slightly pendulous flowers – straigtht out or slightly hanging down. While Brugmansia have mostly pendulous to slightly pendulous flowers - mostly hanging down.
Are They Poisonous?
You betcha.
The leaves, flowers and seeds all contain an alkaloid and are considered to be toxic.
While some folks have used it as a hallucinogenic, the difficulty with this rests with the plant. In rich soils, the plant will not concentrate the alkaloid heavily. In poor soils (like any herb) the concentration of alkaloids increases. This means that while a batch of seed may give a “high” from one plant – a batch from another plant will simply kill.
I have always worn gloves when pulling out the dead stalks in the fall.
datura
Why Grow Them Then?
Well, there’s no doubt that while they are poisonous - they are also gorgeous plants. While the first year plant (pictured) isn’t flowering yet (see below) it does have a very nice variegated foliage.
And frankly, if we eliminated every plant in the wild and our gardens that was poisonous, we’d be hard-pressed to accomplish it. Many of our common garden plants are toxic but don’t have that reputation.
And the fragrance is quite heavy and will perfume an entire garden on a still evening.
Hardiness
These natives of the Andes are not reliably hardy in areas that get frost. Named varieties will have to be overwintered in frost free conditions.
Most of the common ones self-sow like mad and can become quite weedy.
Propagation
The seed is easily grown if kept at 70F soil temperature until it germinates.
It is very easily propagated from cuttings and some plants throw offshoots that can be separated from the mother plant at the roots.
How To Grow
Put in sun or part shade in moderately fertile soil.
They do appreciate decent drainage and tend to rot in standing water or clay soils. This may be why they are commonly found growing wild on the banks of ditches. The roots can reach for water but the crowns like to stay dryish.
Mine Didn’t Flower
Some of the taller species (usually the more colorful ones) have to achieve a certain size to flower. In my experience this means I usually grow them the first year in a container and then the second year (and afterwards) they flower heavily. So generally – you have overwinter them if you have a short season garden.
How to Overwinter
I grow mine in containers and put them in a sunny windowsill.
Yes, they’re almost tree sized and yes, the bottom leaves will turn yellow and drop off unless you have a bank of grow-lights keeping them green.
Remember – frost free and full sunlight. That’s the trick. I hold off on the feeding during Nov-Feb but then I start right in again in early March as the light levels increase.
In the spring, I do not put the overwintered plant outdoors until all danger of frost has finished.
Q&A - my Datura didn't flower - but others have.
Click here if you have a question about your Datura or Brugmansia
Custom Search
