Notice I ~ WARNING: All parts of a Brugmansia and Datura are 'Poisonous.' If you have come to our site
to learn what parts to take to get high, stop right there!! You should read about the poor kids that didn't make it because they believe what rumors that are being said by others. How about the poor kid in Germany that is missing his tongue and private parts? Try getting high on life before you do something stupid and ingest something that can kill you!! But again let's just let the gene pool thin out some? It is a shock to find out someone is here to get information on getting high so it's time for that warning!!
Notice II: Some of you many have noticed 'toes' has been absent from the garden sites and thank you for some concerns. We are in the full swing of the flower and veggie garden season and it's really hard to get into the forums with so much to do here outside. If you need to get a hold of me direct please email me. We will continue putting on the new photos we get on the 'Datmansias' when we get them. Thank you everyone for your help in testing!! I promise to get updated photos soon!
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Part I ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brugmansia and Daturas
"Breathtaking, awesome and even fantastic" are the remarks that can be heard when folks see these remarkable plants.
But to this day there is a great confusion over these plants that at one time were classified under the same genus of Datura. In the 1970's, each Brugmansia and Datura were given its own genus and it has been a task to educate folks to the differences, especially in the European countries where they are still being called Datura today.
Brugmansia, originally/commonly known as Angel's Trumpet, are the tree/shrub forms that can be traced back to the Inuit American Indians and can be found all the way south, into the mountains of South America. It has the downward facing bell shaped flowers, hence the name of Angel Trumpets. Their seedpods can range from a round shape to being elongated like a bean pod; it just depends on the variety/species used in hybridizing.
The brugmansia seeds come in a corky seed coat and there is a trick to get them started. One needs to soak the seeds in very warm water for at least 24-48 hours, changing the water a few times a day to be able to peel them. It is recommended that you place these on top of a refrigerator where the water will stay warmer longer. If the seeds are fresh, a shorter period of time could be used. You should handle with care as some may sprout in this time period.
B. Sanguinea B. Sunray B. Arborea B. aurea culebra B. candida
borrachera
When talking about varieties of brugmansias, these are the major ones;
B. arborea, B. candida, B. sanguinea, B. Vulcanicolas, B. suaveolens, B. insignis, B. aurea, and B. versicolor. As new hybrids are created, this list is expanding with the creations we are now seeing. B. x flave, for example, is the cross of B. Arborea X B Sanguinea. Yet another new hybrid of B. vulcanicola called 'Roter Vulkan is the deepest red one can find.
Each variety has its own growing habits and before you make a purchase it is wise to know what conditions are needed for the one you are about to purchase. We have many German hybridizers to thank for their work and breathtaking doubles; and to Terra Nova Nursery here in the states for their first tissue culture/patented plant called B. Snowbank. I need to add that these is now a second patented Brugmansia called B. Miner's Claim ( PP15747.) While we haven't seen that purple brugmansia that folks dream about, we hope this will someday happen.
B. Snowbank B. Shorty's Variegated Sports
There has been some talk on hybridizing of Brugmansia X Datura which one can find information on this at the American Brugmansia and Datura Society's website, Richard Sanders has supplied this information there. These plants have the appearance of the Brugmansia due to the mother plant. After reading this information, I took the path in the other direction to create our 'Datmansia' Yes, ours had the Datura Mother and their appearance is more on the Datura side.
Brugmansia is one plant that will take all the fertilizer that you give it but be warned. Yes, you can over fertilize these and it's not a pretty picture when you do. These will reward you with breathtaking evening-scented trumpet flowers if done correctly.
These are night bloomers and related to the nightshade/solanaceae family. Yes, these are extremely poisonous. In some areas of the country, some municipalities have even gone to great lengths to ban them. If you decide to grow these, please use good judgment and do handle these with care as they are not to be taken lightly.
A typical multi-purpose fertilizer has three numbers on it. The numbers are percentages of usable nutrients. N = Nitrogen (for green growth) P = Phosphorus (for flowers and fruit) and K = Potassium (also for flowers and plant structure). The main limiting nutrient tends to be nitrogen, but too much of it will cause plants to grow fast with few or no flowers or fruit. There are many micro nutrients also which these plants especially need.
A multi purpose/NPK formula fertilizer is recommended. There are some growers who have learned to push these plants to produce hundreds of blooms in their second or even third flush by feeding their brugmansia a higher middle number/phosphorus, which produces blooms. Some growers will also feed their plants rose or time release fertilizers. You must know your plants before you try any of these methods.
I am someone who does play with her plants, I have learned that by feeding them a higher first number/nitrogen during the first couple months (March 1st - April 1st), I can obtain height. I then switch to the higher middle number/phosphorus for blooms for a couple months (April 15th - July15th.) Then I move to an overall formula fertilizer for the last months (end of July - Sept 1st.) After that, I stop all feeding so that the plant can go into its dormant stage for the winter (we overwinter ours in their own Brugmansia house with the temps set into the mid 40-50's range). If one goes this route, please modify this for your area and region, do not follow this as it is for the Pacific Northwest/Southwest WA State where we are located.
Not every Brugmansia is created equally! Each has their own set of requirements or environments that will help them reach their full potential. It's best to know the name of your Brugmansia so that an expert can give you a direction if they will grow in sunny or shade environments. There are also Brugmansias out there that do not like their tops cut off and some that hate to have their roots disturb.
While these plants may seem high maintenance, there are some easy clean cultural habits that will take care of most problems.
Part I - A
Brugmansia by seasons . . . . . .
Spring, moving them outside. Keeping them stripped.
1 1/2 months outside with min fertilizer. Late summer.
Second flush Fall and time to strip back.
Starting the stripping process as the fall crocus bloom, next it will be taking cuttings.
It's just that time of year when they want to really bloom but we all know to enjoy the last ones.
Moving them inside and before they do they used to spend a couple weeks in the garage where we would
spray them a few times to make sure no critters came in and put sand on top of the soil for those that lay eggs.
Being inside where they get less water and enjoyed the warmth besides taking up space. It was so much of a chore to bring these huge pots inside. No more will we see them inside and now they have their own home during the winter months! In the fall we put up a temporary Brugmansia House due to the local restrictions where we live that require a permit to put up a permanent Greenhouse. So check you local requirements out before getting a greenhouse.
~~~~~~~~ Part II ~~~~~~~~
Viruses, Insects and Quarantine ~ Oh My!
Word of caution:'please know your growers or nurseries if you are going to grow either Brugsmansia or Datura.' Besides being poisonous and virus-prone (fungal, leaf spot, stalk wilt, mosaic-like disease to even cork growths), you should know what insects bother these lovely ladies of the night. Several varieties of 'Mites' especially spider & broad, aphids, whitefly and fruit gnats are fairly common. They also attract worms, caterpillars and snails. The funny thing is I haven't seen a single worm, caterpillar or snail drop dead at the feet of any brug after destroying one.
Brugmansias do carry a virus gene and if not properly cared for it can pop up at a moment's notice. So if you suspect a virus, please destroy the plant right away as to not infect other Brugmansias or plants. Most important, do not toss infected parts onto the compost pile. Do not trade or pass along any plant that aren't completely healthy. The wisest thing to do is to quarantine your plants for a period of 9-12 months after discovering a virus-infected plant.
While we are talking about virus and trading or even purchasing, it is time to weigh in on a quarantine process that one should have setup for all new arrivals to your collection. Do you just buy and plant? In the case of Brugmansias and Daturas, it is best to place all plants or cuttings in quarantine for a few months before adding them to your garden. This is a good rule of thumb to use for any plant materials even if you do know and trust the nursery or person you are trading/purchasing with. The only 100% safe way is to grow Brugmansias and Daturas is from seed. Seeds generally do not transmit viruses whereas cuttings always do. If you unsure of the seed source, you can dip the seeds in a bleach mix of 1 part bleach with 9 parts water. There has been some talk that small tip cuttings too can also be another route, this too is another path we are looking into.
~~~~~~~ Part III ~~~~~~~~~~~
Hybridizing 101
These are the tools that we currently use besides nylons to close back up the bloom after we have pollinated the stigma. As you can see we dry all anthers in small cups and then store them in air tight plastic baggies that can be stored up to 5 years. Here is the basic on the plant construction.
The stigma is held in place by the style. In the calyx you will fine the overy and nectar channel.
The pollen is found on the anther and the key to pollination is get to the stigma before any thing else does and making sure you remove the anthers before you close the corolla tub so that nothing can get in. Be sure you label what you have done so that you know down the road. Another key is knowing which species can be crossed, yes you can cross a Brugmansia with a Datura and a Datura with a Brugmansia (check out our Datmansia's photo below.) They aren't pretty but worth a try, just finding they right compatible features and knowing that albinos are possible with variegated species. The Datmansia photo below is the cross of two light variegated species. ~~~~~~~~ Part IV ~~~~~~~~
Plant Etiquette
Do you do what is in the best interest of the species? Do you share patented plants?? Do you know the laws about obtaining seeds or plant material from over seas? Do you know why it's important to keep the name of the hybrider with the plant? Do you know the proper order when you list seeds on a packet of seeds? Do you buy seeds and then pass them off as your own?
Do you test plants and keep the hybrider aware of what you are testing? Do you then trade plants that you test without the hybridier being aware of this? If the hybridizer saids to cull the plant you have tested and you pass this off as your own? When you have an open pollinated plant that has gone to seed, do you list it as open pollinated or do you guess what plant is the parent?
Buying across the pond is a whole other issue, please check with your State's Agriculture Dept. to see what they require and know just what you will be opened to. They too can tell you if plant material is passing their tests or if you are just wasting your time and money.
There is more that can be added here but I think you get the picture that some of us are serious about what we do, so how about you?
D. Missouri Marble D. wrightii D. metel var D. metel var
fastuosa chlorantha
D. stramonium var D. Ferox D. var rubra Datmansia
tutula Datura X Brugmansia
~~~~~~~~ Part A ~~~~~~~~
The Datura
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.
D. stramonium var D. metel var D. metel var fastuosa D. Missouri Marble
tutula chlorantha
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.
~~~~~~~~ Part V ~~~~~~~~~~
More Research and Joining Organizations
There are two books that have been published that some Brugmansia and Datura growers refer as the 'Bibles' I would hope that you get a copy of one and read to get the basics down. Please run a search on these books, other organization or websites.
I can't stress enough that you know the grower and know what you are purchasing! Plus if you join an organization know what you are getting into and what they do for your membership fee. Find out as much as you can before joining, what are your rights when you pay a fee?
This page is to give you a basic idea of that it takes to grow these and we welcome your questions.
We have a page with questions and answers so keep them coming. If you want to talk to us direct
please email us for our phone number so we can arrange a time, as we will not post it on our site.
Copyright Lynn Carman
karma 'Happy Toes' is also our registered trade name