Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia) (2024)

FAQs

Where is the best place to plant Brugmansia? ›

Indoors, brugmansias need bright light, such as in a conservatory or beside a large sunny window, or in a heated greenhouse. Outdoors in summer, give them a warm, sheltered spot, in partial shade or sun. Planting in partial shade means they should dry out less quickly.

Is Angel's Trumpet Plant Poisonous? Angel's trumpet is a very poisonous plant, causing intense hallucinations, seizures, and even death in the most severe cases. This plant can also cause poisoning through various routes. You can get poisoned by touching, inhaling, or eating almost any part of an angel's trumpet.

Ingestion of Angel's Trumpet flowers or a tea brewed from them results in an alkaloid-induced central nervous system anticholinergic syndrome characterized by symptoms such as fever, delirium, hallucinations, agitation, and persistent memory disturbances.

Since angel's trumpet is native to tropical environments, it requires at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. This plant will tolerate partial sunlight in humid or dry climates, especially in the afternoon.

You live in USDA hardiness zone 3 (AgCan hardiness zone 4) where winters plunge well below freezing and stay there for weeks, yet the brugmansia is a subtropical plant: even the cold-hardiest cultivars can barely tolerate 23 °F (-5 °C), and even then, only for short periods of time.

For angel's trumpet to thrive, grow it in a spot with full sun. In warmest regions, provide shade during the hottest part of the afternoon or place your plant where it will receive dappled sunlight through the day, such as beneath a spreading tree.

Are angel's trumpet plants illegal? Angel's trumpet plants are not illegal, and most gardeners can safely grow these plants without ever risking accidental poisoning. However, some states, like Louisiana, have laws that make it illegal to grow and process hallucinogenic plants for the purpose of human consumption.

Angel's Trumpet plants aren't just a pretty face; they pack a toxic punch with alkaloids like scopolamine and atropine. These substances can mess with your dog's nervous system, leading to symptoms that range from a case of the wobbles to full-blown hallucinations or even paralysis.

All parts of angel's trumpets are considered poisonous and contain the alkaloids atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Ingestion of the plants can cause disturbing hallucinations, paralysis, tachycardia, and memory loss and can be fatal.

According to Dr. Villano, 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.

What is the most poisonous plant in the world? ›

Perhaps the most famously lethal on our list is Atropa belladonna, the aptly named Deadly Nightshade. This toxic plant belongs to the same family as tomatoes, potatoes and aubergines, and can be found across Europe, including in Britain, as well as North Africa, Western Asia and some parts of the USA and Canada.

The plant, which is commonly called a devil's trumpet, resembles a brugmansia plant (angel's trumpet). The major difference in the two plants is that the datura (devil's trumpet) has large trumpet shaped blossoms that stand up straight, instead of pointing downward in the manner of an angel's trumpet.

Angel's trumpets are most toxic when you consume them in some way. Although there is not major concern if you touch the leaves or petals, the plant can still an effect on you. If your child were to touch one of these plants, Dr. Holmes recommends speaking to their doctor.

Brugmansia Care and Identification

Hummingbirds and moths are attracted to the large flowers, and the plants are resistant to deer and drought while tolerating light frosts. Courtesy Vera Stonawska Moths enjoy the fragrant flowers of angel's trumpet.

Angel's Trumpet will go into a resting phase over winter. As long as the stems are firm the plant is alive and will revive. Increase your success by keeping the plant in a cool, near 55 degrees, bright location. Group it with other plants or place on gravel trays filled with water to provide the humidity it prefers.

Brugmansias do best in full sun. All plant parts are poisonous; keep brugmansias away from inquisitive children and pets. Learn more about brugmansia toxicity. The flowers are most fragrant at night, so put plants where the tropical scent can be enjoyed most.

It consumes amazing amounts of water, but it also requires good drainage and does not like to stand in water, so a large plant may require frequent watering. The leaves will droop when it needs watering, and quickly recovers when watered. You may need to water your plant 2-3 times daily on hot summer days.

Shade or sun: This depends on where you live. In the colder zones most Brugs can withstand full sun all day long except for ones in the Sanguinea family which benefit from afternoon shade. In the warmer zones it is best to put them where they will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.

Amend the soil with plenty of organic material and loosen it to a depth of a foot (30.5 cm.) before installing the plant. Many gardeners prefer to grow the plants in containers, so it is easy to move them indoors over winter.