I really can’t imagine voluntarily planting one of these. How could a tree with such a beguiling name be so toxic? You see them everywhere in gardens in Portugal, often a stunning profusion of - very often - yellow bells hanging down, adding a tropical feel to any garden.

The Brugmansia, common name angel trumpet, is a stunning perennial that comes in myriad shades of white, yellow, gold, orange, peach and pink, with their bloom size ranging from 10cm to 60cm, depending on their cultivar.

It even has a smell, but avoid sniffing to find out, as the down side to this stunning flower is that it is in the nightshade family, and therefore extremely poisonous. In fact, the angel's trumpet can cause intense hallucinations, seizures, and even death in the most severe cases, and can cause poisoning through various routes - by touching, inhaling, or eating almost any part of it, so think carefully before introducing one to your garden, as all parts of the angel's trumpet — including the flower, leaves, seeds and stem — contain a toxin called scopolamine that can cause serious poisoning to humans and pets. It is recommended you thoroughly wash your hands after touching because if you have any of the oils on your hands and you put it in your eyes, you may have an adverse reaction to it. Also avoid composting any seeds or parts of the plant, for good measure.

Grown either as a woody shrub or small tree, these big bloomers are in the Solanaceae family, native to tropical South America, where a butterfly there uses angel’s trumpet as a host plant and larval food (female butterflies lay their eggs on and caterpillars eat). They store the plant’s tropane alkaloids in the pupa stage and pass it along to the adult butterfly where they are used against predators, making them distasteful.

Now, after reading all that, and you still want one, or maybe you have inherited one by moving into a property where one is already growing, here are some tips about growing and caring for them.


Caring for Angel Trumpet


In order to properly care for one, it will like a lot of water, but it doesn't like to stay wet, so ensure you have well-draining soil, and wilting blooms is a good indication that it needs more water. However, it can be quite drought-tolerant once established.

The right sunlight exposure is essential too. It likes sun. However, if you live somewhere with a lot of direct sun, it's better to give it some shade, perhaps morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled sun.


Pruning Angel Trumpet


This is a hardy plant that takes well to pruning, so don't be afraid to make drastic cuts. This is useful for managing the plant's growth, but can also be used as an opportunity to control its shape. If it gets too big or you don't like the way it's going, you can cut it really hard and it responds well. Before you start, you should seriously consider wearing a mask, goggles and gloves.

Credits: envato elements; Author: didesign;

Pruning is essential for the plant’s overall health as well as for aesthetics. By cutting away excess foliage, you keep the plant clean, meaning it will attract fewer non-beneficial bugs. Use clean sharp tools, and start by cutting branches that are crisscrossing. If you're unsure where to start, begin by cutting branches so it's not super dense. It is recommended to clean up underneath so there's no debris, as if plant is dirty, it can cause stress. And importantly, don’t forget to thoroughly clean both your tools and yourself after pruning, and don’t put the debris on your compost heap.


What's the Difference Between Brugmansia and Datura?


Brugmansia and Datura are interchangeably called angel's trumpets. They look similar, come from same family, and are both toxic. However, Brugmansia plants can grow up to 6m tall with larger, pendulous flowers that face downward, lasting longer. The datura plant is smaller, only growing up to 1.2m tall with flowers facing upward; and its round, spiny seed pods self-sow easily, whereas Brugmansia has smooth, elongated seed pods that do not self-sow.

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan