Angel's Trumpet Datura

Together with Brugmansia, this genus forms the showy group of plants known as angel's trumpets. Daturas differ from Brugmansias in several ways, however: they are herbaceous rather than shrublike, their flowers are upright rather than pendent, and their seedpods are swollen and spiny rather than beanlike.

• Perennial.
• Zones LS, CS, TS; USDA 8-11.
• Bushy plant native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
• To 3 feet tall and wide, with oval, pointed, downy leaves to 10 inches long.
• Showy, lightly fragrant flowers, 68 inches long, may be pink, lavender, or white.
• Good choice for containers.

• Perennial.
• Dwarf hybrid involving Datura stramonium that reaches only 34 feet tall and not quite as wide.
• Serrated, dark green leaves; pale lilac, sweetly fragrant blooms.
• Small size and compact habit make it ideal for containers.

• Annual.
• Zones US, MS, LS, CS, TS; USDA 6-11.
• Native to southern China and India.
• Grows quickly, reaching 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide by late summer.
• Oval, pointed leaves to 8 inches long; exotic-looking flowers, up to 8 inches long, in white or purple shades.
• Selections include 'Alba', bearing pure white flowers; 'Aurea', with golden yellow blooms; and 'Belle Blanche, with large leaves and white flowers.
• Cornucopia features gorgeous double purple-and-white blossoms.
• This species self-sows aggressively; seedlings are easily transplanted, making it a favorite passalong plant.

Daturas are easy to grow if given fertile, moist, well-drained soil; full sun; and an occasional feeding with a balanced general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. They're easily propagated from seeds, which burst from seed capsules in late summer. Some species reseed rampantly. Where plants aren't winter hardy, store them in a cool greenhouse or unheated garage during cold months.