Angel trumpets are heaven scent

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service — Galveston County Office

June 20, 2012

PHOTO BY Dr. William M. Johnson Dr. William Johnson is a horticulturist with the When brugmansias or angel trumpets came into bloom, the effect is breathtaking. A plant in full bloom is covered Galveston County Office with a multitude of dramatic, funnel-shaped flowers hanging down from the branches. of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Visit It probably would not be a plant that brings such a dra- a moist, fertile, well-drained his website at surprise to learn that many of matic presence to the garden. soil in full sun to part shade. http://aggie- my friends are gardeners. There are several species and horticulture.tamu.edu/ Visits to the homes of garden- The plant producing this dis- hybrids of brugmansia that galveston. ing friends sometimes take on tinctive scent is known as grow here as well. the appearance of a house angel trumpet. Angel trum- News column printed in call, meaning I am asked pets are classed within the The brugmansias are large- the Galveston Daily about disease, insect pest Solanaceae family, along with growing, tree-like plants News, The Post, and problems and even the identi- tomatoes, potatoes and petu- reaching heights of 10 to15 other Galveston County fication of a mystery plant. nias. feet in Galveston County if Newspapers. winters are mild. Heights gen- During a late evening on a By Another Name erally will be shorter in parts recent visit, I was delighted to of the state where the plants catch a whiff of an amazing Angel trumpet also is known freeze during winter. fragrance hanging in the air. as brugmansia (which is the Like most other gardeners genus name, too). Brugman- When brugmansias come into faced with a similar situation, sias are tropical plants native bloom, the effect is breathtak- I set off to track the origin of to northwestern South Amer- ing. The trumpet-shaped the scent and it didn’t take ica. They are easily grown in flowers are large (about 9 long. It is hard to overlook a Page 2 Angel trumpets are heaven scent

inches long, flaring to about 6 inches across) and can be white, pink, peach or Nurseries occasionally have brugmansias yellow and very showy. A tree in full for sale, and several mail-order compa- bloom is covered with these dramatic nies offer a good selection of colors. funnel-shaped flowers hanging down Check the Internet. Early to mid-summer from the branches, as if trumpets were is a great time to plant them so they will directed at the Earth from the heavens have a longer time to grow and become above. At dusk, the white-flowered types established before they have to go glow. And if the plant is lighted at night, through their first winter. the effect is awesome. (Use a spotlight directed upward below the plant.) During the winter, plants growing in the ground will need some protection should The fragrance of the flowers is most no- near-freezing weather occurs. They are ticeable in the evening when the wind is reliably root-hardy, however, and calm — the soft, seductive scent floats in mulched plants usually will re-sprout the air like expensive perfume with light, from the ground in April. lemony overtones. To stick your nose right in a flower and take a whiff is al- Datura Metel most intoxicating. Brugmansias begin to bloom as early as The other plant we call angel trumpet is April or May if the winter was very mild, closely related to the brugmansias but as the 2012 winter was. They continue to looks quite different. Datura metel is produce their flowers in flushes or waves shrubbier in appearance and does not through the summer and into the fall, of- grow so tall. The leaves are not hairy and ten continuing well into December if the often have a purple tint to them. The weather stays mild. young stems are typically shiny, dark purple. Beautiful Variety The trumpet-shaped flowers might be Some cultivars produce flowers that start white, purple and white or pale yellow, off-white then turn a delicious salmon and the double-flowered forms are more pink. Other cultivars produce white, yel- commonly grown than singles. low, pale orange, peach or pink flowers. There are even double forms available Unlike the brugmansias, whose flowers and some with variegated leaves. hang downward, daturas hold their flow- ers more upright. The sweet fragrance Brugmansias belong to that wonderful does not permeate the air around the group of plants that are easily propagated plants to the extent of the brugmansias, and passed from gardener to gardener. It but is delightful nonetheless. is easy to root a 6-to 8-inch cutting taken from the end of a branch during the sum- Whether you know them as brugmansia mer. Remove leaves from the lower two- and datura or just angel trumpet, they can thirds of the cutting and any flowers or add a tropical accent to the garden and flower buds. Using a rooting hormone is delight the olfactory senses. Be aware, optional, but it can speed rooting. however, that all parts of brugmansia and datura plants are poisonous, so watch Stick cuttings half their length deep in a toddlers or young children when they are pot of potting mix, sharp sand or a half- around these plants. and-half mix of perlite and vermiculite. Keep the cuttings in a shady area, and Just be aware, and enjoy these remarkable make sure the rooting mix stays moist. plants in your own landscape. Rooting generally takes place in six to eight weeks.