D. Missouri Marble D. wrightii D. metel var D. metel var
fastuosa chlorantha 
D. stramonium var D. Ferox D. var rubra Datmansia - 2006
tutula Datura Missoui Marble X
Brugmansia Shorty's Variegated
Datura 101
The Datura, like its cousin the Brugmansia, is also night blooming and is just as poisonous.
Datura is also known as Thorn Apple or Devil's Trumpet, as the bloom will head upwards.
It is more of an annual according to some resources. Yet, I have seen several Daturas return from their roots following a mild to moderate winters here in the PNW. Given the right conditions, they can shoot upwards of over 6-8 feet. These too were found in nearly the same areas as the Brugmansia, but this plant requires a richer soil that allows the roots to grow freely. Datura do not require as much fertilizer as
the Brugmansia do and these do not do as well in the heavier clay soils found in some areas.
Datura Seedpods 
D. stramonium var D. metel var D. metel var D. Missouri Marble
tutula chlorantha fastuosa 
Datura Missouri Marble Seeds
When looking at the seedpods of any Datura you will find that they do have spines on their rounded/oval shapes. Some of these spines are so sharp and painful that you may need gloves to handle them. Unlike Brugmansia seeds, Daturas do not come in a corky shell and appearance more to their cousin the tomato. Unlike the short list of varieties of the Brugmansia, Datura's list is well over 40 varieties and growing. If you have a limited space, one might try the Datura metal var 'Ballerina' varieties for their small compact growth.
I also do not recommend over wintering Daturas inside during the winter months. Another tip of importance is do not grow these solanaceae family cousins in close contact, if you do it's easy to spread virus and insect problems having them in close range.
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karmaHT Answers Your Questions 2008 & 2009:
Datura Questions:
Q. Can I grow Daturas in the shade?
kHT's A. You can but you may not see them bloom, these are sun lovers and they need rich soil.
So add compost if you soils is that of clay.
Q. How do I get rid of Daturas in the yard?
kHT's A. All I can tell you is to dig and dig and dig them out to remove all the roots and their runners.
We have used round up and they still return. This is why we have an area that is strickly for Daturas and
our Datmansia.
Q. what part of datura do you take?
kHT's A. 6/23 Please go back to our home page and read the warning! You would do best to make yourself some Passie tea!
Q. I have D. Black Current Swirl and can't find information on this one, why?
kHT's A. Because that is not the real name and some nursery or seed company decided to change it? The correct name is D. metel var fastuosa which can range from a single to even triple corolla tube.
Q. Should I fertilize my Daturas like I do my Brugmansias?
kHT's A. No!! Daturas I find don't need all the pampering like their cousin's Brugmansia. I find the more I neglect these the more they bloom, they seem to get all they need from the soil they are planted in. We just plant them directly in the soil and they tend to do their own thing here.
Q. Are Daturas easier to grow than Brugmansias? I want something that doesn't take up much of my time.
kHT's A. Yes, you should grow a Datura as these are so easy and thrive on neglect from what we have found here. Give them full sun and a little water, then just watch them grow and bloom.
Q. Which Datura is your favorite as we see you grow several?
kHT's A. D. Missouri Marble tops the lists with it's variegated foliage, lavender stalk and the foliage smells of peanut butter! It's the one we love to play with. But the D. rubra is coming in as a close second with it's smaller compact size and it bloomed like crazy. We highly recommend for the smaller yards the var metel varieties. We do not recommend the D. stramonium var tatula/'La Feur lilac' variety as this one
is a weed in some communities and it's really hard to rid ones yard of them if they get away from you.
Q. I would like to find a D. Missouri Marble but can't locate one?
kHT's A. I would recommend you run a search for it and if you find one check with the nursery first before your buy as some may not have them in stock and if they have a mother plant they may have to root one first. This can take several weeks, depending on the method they use. Currently we have found only one source Glasshouse Works at $25 a plant for 4" pot.
Q. My Datura seeds aren't doing anything, why?
kHT's A. Daturas need heat and sun to take off and will do nothing unless you have them in full
sun. Most of them can be planted direct and still bloom in one season if done early. Some of the
Daturas that have darker colored seeds can be planted now, just mark so you remember where they
were planted.
Q. Can I grow Brugmansias and Daturas together?
kHT's A. I wouldn't recommend this due to the virus and insect each of these can have. Beside each have their own growing requirements and Daturas love the richer soils with sunnier conditions.
Q. Datura names, I'm getting confused when I visit all these sites and see all these different names
for what appears to be the same flower, why?
kHT's A. One needs to understand that some folks will give them a name to just sell what they are growing and some just don't have a clue? I just love all the names for D. metel var fastuosa, from Black Current Swirl to Raspberry Swirl. Or folks calling Brugmansias, a Datura or vice versa. Education is the key to obtaining knowledge before one buys plants!! If a person states it's new or rare, one should do a internet search and my bet is it's not!
Q. I hear Daturas self pollinate, is this true?
kHT's A. Yes, this is why it's important if you hybridize to remove the Anthers and pollinate before the corolla tube opens.
Q. We see you have albino seedlings and will these grow to be plants?
kHT's A. We have had very few grow to become mature plants and we are working on this issue. Albinos usually do not live let along grow in full sun as our first Datura Albino did let alone product flowers or seedpods. Some say this was a lucky shot but we are currently working on the next generation of these seedlings.
Update, we are currently seeing those that were set out last fall sprout and those that we did the cold treatment sprout. We have also found some of the ones that we started earlier in the greenhouse die and when we sat this tray outside some later ones are sprouting. Again this year we are seeing a couple green ones sprouting in the middle of all the albinos. It's been interesting to see these grow.
Q. I have a Datura growing in a pot and it's root bound, should I put it in a larger pot?
kHT's A. That is up to you, we have found the more root bound both Daturas and Brugmansia are the more they seen to thrive and bloom. Last year we kept a D. metel var fastuosa in a one gallon pot all season. It bloomed beautifully and was a show stopper. Knowing that they are annuals I would be tossing it after one season. Also keeping it in the pot was great as I could move it if needed more attention in an other area
of the garden. We also found when we did move it that the roots had found their way out the bottom holes in the pot. One could also treat this in a double pot if needed.
Q. I grew the stramonium var tatula last year and my neighbor told me it was a weed, 'La Fleur?'
kHT's A. I hate to tell you but your neighbor is right, our local authorities have it listed locally
as a weed. This Datura can get out of hand fast!! Last year we grew 6 (we didn't plant, a bird gifted
us with over 24) of these and tossed 5 pickle buckets of seed pods in the yard recycle bin. Then in the fall when we decided to pull up the Datura garden we had to dig 6 feet down to get all the roots. So I wouldn't recommend this Datura unless you can keep it under control and know that it can get out of hand.
Q. Since you grow both Daturas and Brugmansia, which do you feel is the easiest to grow? I like the looks of both but want easy for my life style, please advise before I purchase??
kHT's A. Oh my, hands down Daturas are the easiest and no fussing at all. Brugmansia are the highest
maintenances plant in our garden and there are many things one needs to keep doing for them to be in their prime. I would start out with a Datura and if you love them, you can always try a Brugmansia later. Remember do not get in over your head on the Brugmansias, as they need weekly feeding and spraying to keep the critters at bay.
Q. I grew a Datura Blackcurrant Swirl last year and it didn't bloom, why?
kHT's A. First, did you grow this is full sun and rich soil? These are the requirements for a healthy Datura. Secondly, this one is known as D. metel var fastuosa, not as you had it in your question. Again folks tend to change the name to sell. We placed one, our first year up by our entryway as I had seen this one in the catalogs. Our entryway is only morning sun and the poor Datura wasn't happy. Once it was moved just a few feet into full sun it took off. Again one needs to know that environment plays a big role in with both Daturas and Brugmansia in how they grow.
Q. I have my Daturas in shade and they aren't blooming, why?
kHT's A. Daturas do best in rich soils and full sun so this is why yours aren't blooming. Even in our clay soils we see them growing slower than normal here.
Q. I planted some Datura seeds months ago and still nothing, why?
kHT's A. I would need to know the conditions that they were put in? Is you weather turned hot yet?
They need the warmth to germinate and also did you soak them prior to planting? Don't give up on them
just mark them so you know where they are. We have seen some plant in prior years, later sprout and
grow into healthy plants. Remember they need heat to grow. I will add here we are still seeing seeds
we popped in the ground a year ago pop up so be patient.
Q. I was told that Datura seeds planted in the soil can germinate years later?
kHT's A. It is my understanding that is true, that datura seed can lay dormant and sprout later. These seeds also have a long shelf life if stored in the right conditions.
Q. I have seen your photos of what appears to be a D. inoxia and it's yellow, can I ask why?
kHT's A. We have several this year that we are now seeing they with yellow. One is from a friends seeds and it's my understanding that it's a possible cross with D. var metel chlorantha which was next to the D. inoxia and was open pollinated. The others are from our Datmansia projects. A few folks are noting that with the cooler temps there is the appearance of a golden yellow tint on the corolla tube. When we crossed the D. MM
last year the pollen came from a plant that produces yellow that fades to a golden yellow/orange bloom.