Brugmansia

( brug - MAN - see - uh )

At - A - Glance Information

Also called Angel's Trumpet, this evergreen to semi-evergreen group of shrubs includes species that grow in sun or shade and require regular waterings for best performance. They are beautiful, mounding, tropical-looking shrubs covered in trumpet-shaped hanging flowers. They make a breathtaking focal point in any garden, and in some cases can even be trained into a small tree. Blooms are fragrant, especially in the evening hours. Take care when planting these beauties in your yard, as ingesting any part of the plant can be very poisonous.

brugmansia species and varietals

The genus Brugmansia includes 7 species and is a member of the Nightshade family, Solanaceae. They were first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as part of the genus Datura, and then in 1805 were moved to their own genus by C. H. Persoon. Brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet) shrubs grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 12, 13, 16-24, H1 and H2. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Brugmansia x candida (Datura candida) (White Angel's Trumpet, Tall Datura)
This hybrid species reaches up to 10-12 feet tall and just as wide at maturity. Dull green leaves cover the shrub, and sweet-scented 8-10 inch long flowers bloom in cream to white. Flowers hang straight down from branches. Popular varieties include 'Double White' with creamy white double blossoms and greyish-green foliage, and 'Variegata' (also called 'Sunset'), which is smaller (growing to 5 feet tall and wide) with light golden-peach flowers and white-edged leaves.

Brugmansia x cubensis 'Charles Grimaldi'
This vigorous-growing hybrid reaches up to 10-12 feet tall and 10 feet wide at maturity. Very fragrant, large golden yellow/orange flowers cover the entire shrub during the flowering season in spring and summertime.

Brugmansia x insignis (Pink Angel's Trumpet, Magnificent Angel's Trumpet)
Grows to 10 to 12 feet tall and just as wide. Large, flaring trumpet flowers point out at a 45 degree angle from the shrub and have a spicy/sweet fragrance. Flowers come in pink, yellow, white, and orange. Varieties include 'Frosty Pink' (pictured) with 8-10 inch salmon-pink flowers, 'Jamaica Yellow' with light yellow flowers, and 'Betty Marshall', a compact 6-8 foot tall plant with white blossoms.

Brugmansia sanguinea (Mountain Angel's Trumpet, Red Angel's Trumpet, Red Datura, Eagle Tree)
This variety grows to be 8-12 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Leaves are wavy-edged and greyish green. Trumpets are narrow and 8 inches long orange-red with yellow veining. Some varieties also have orange to yellow or pink flowers. This type does not do well during hot summers, during which they will not bloom as profusely.

Brugmansia versicolor (Peach Angel's Trumpet, Salmon Angel's Trumpet)
This is the most tree-like of all of the species on this list, growing to 15 feet tall and wide. Flowers are 15 inches long and peach-colored, and hang straight down from the plant. Blossoms have a sweet fragrance at night and in the early morning. Varieties include 'Ecuador Pink', and the more compact 'Peaches and Cream' which grows to about 5 feet tall and has variegated leaves.

Caring for and pruning brugmansia

Take care when planting these beauties in your yard, as ingesting any part of the plant can be very poisonous. Angel's Trumpets are typically purchased from a reputable nursery, but can also be grown from seed. These shrubs and small trees tend to need some shelter, as wind will damage foliage and flowers. In colder climates, be ready for some frost damage and a somewhat unattractive winter appearance. Plant in a space that receives full sun to partial shade; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. In warmer climates, provide afternoon shade when temperatures are at their peak (typically between 2 and 3 PM). Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Before springtime growth begins, remove dead, weak, and crowded stems. Otherwise, these shrubs don't need much pruning. These perennial shrubs and trees can survive for several decades with the proper care before needing to be replaced.

Caring for Brugmansia in Containers
Brugmansia trees and shrubs can be grown in the ground or in containers. Container growing Angel's Trumpet plants can allow for gardeners in cooler zones to provide proper care by moving them to a sheltered location over the winter months. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Brugmansia plants grown in containers will need even more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

propagation

Propagation of Angel's Trumpet can be done via cuttings or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Brugmansia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or summer (May to August), before the plant has had time to harden its current season's growth, choose your plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of an older, woody, non-blooming branch and strip off all of the lower leaves, leaving the top two on the cutting. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot about two inches deep.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in a partially shaded spot indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated Brugmansia, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home, either outdoors or inside as a house plant. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new Angel's Trumpet.

Propagating Brugmansia by Seed

Keep in mind that the Angel's Trumpet plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, especially if you are working with a hybrid variety. To propagate by seed, you will need a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Brugmansia seeds are encased in a cork-like covering that looks a bit like a bean. You can choose to leave this seed covering on, or take it off. It's really your choice, though seeds that have been freed from their encasement do tend to germinate better. Harvest as many as you can, and plant all of them in your tray. They will probably not all sow, and the ones that do will be of varying characteristics, especially with hybrid-variety seeds. The more seeds you plant, the more chances you will have to get the resulting shrub you want.
Barely cover the seeds with planting medium (about 1/2 an inch down) and keep the soil moist but not wet by spraying it with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-4 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they have produced two sets of leaves, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with indirect light and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home, either outdoors or inside as a house plant. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new Angel's Trumpet.