Angel trumpet or angel’s trumpet is the popular nickname for Brugmansia. This is a genus of flowering plants from the Solanaceae family. Oftentimes these common names are also used for species in the Datura genus because of some obvious visual similarities. [1]
Between 1753 and 1805, all Brugmansia species were considered members of the Datura arborea genus. In 1805 they became separated and classified under a different genus named in honor of the Dutch naturalist Sebald Justinus Brugmans.
What is interesting about Brugmansia is that none of its seven species can be found in the wild.
[All of them are grown for commercial purposes as ornamental plants. [2]
The species are native to South America although by now they have been introduced to various climates and regions around the world, with the exception of Europe.
Growing The Plant
Angel trumpets of the Brugmansia genus mostly develop into large shrubs.
Sometimes they resemble small trees due to their trunks being made of multiple branches. However, angel trumpets don’t grow taller than 12’ feet.
The leaves come out in alternating patterns along the stems and they are fairly large, reaching up to 12” in length and 7” in width on fully mature trees.
The name is highly indicative of how their flowers look.
Brugmansia is known for trumpet-shaped flowers that can be up to 14” wide at the opening.
They’re also always hanging which is one of the features that differentiate Brugmansia and Datura genera.
Because the flowers are very long, their pleasant lemony scent is very potent.
But they’re also just as toxic as other parts of the plant, so there’d be no drinking Brugmansia tea.
All species in the Brugmansia genus like water. Even during the winter, they still need water at least once a week whether they’re kept inside or out.
This means that the plants prefer damp soil that keeps the roots moist, at least for the entire growing season.
Because these are semi-tropical plants, they appreciate sunlight.
However, depending on the climate they should also benefit from good amounts of shade too.
How To Propagate Angel Trumpets
Propagating angel trumpets can be done with seeds or stem cuttings.
The latter is preferred by most because it’s quicker and can be done after every pruning if you want a large collection of Brugmansia in your garden.
For the best results, use cuttings of up to 8” in length – just make sure that each cutting has four nodes.
You don’t need a rooting hormone but it doesn’t hurt as it can really fast-track the root development.
Place cuttings with the nodes upwards on top of moist potting mixture.
You may want to do this indoors because the cuttings will need a temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Each cutting should yield four new plants. Once they start sprouting, separate them by cutting under the node and planting each new cutting in its own pot.
Caring For The Brugmansia Plants
For healthy angel trumpets, maintain soil pH between 6.5 and 7 as the plant prefers slightly acidic soil.
Direct sunlight is not a problem if you live in a tropical or subtropical region.
But if you plan on planting Brugmansia outside in a desert-like climate, make sure they can get some shade during the day.
Although angel trumpets like a lot of humidity, you don’t want to keep them in an environment that’s too humid when they’re just sprouting from cuttings.
Therefore, if you’re using a plastic bag to cover the younglings, make sure to poke plenty of holes.
Pests, Diseases, Or Problems Of Angel Trumpets
Despite their natural toxicity, caterpillars, spider mites, snails, and slugs are very attracted to Brugmansia plants, especially their seedlings.
Caterpillars are an interesting topic because they consume the angel trumpet sap to use its poisonous alkaloids as their own defensive mechanism.
On the other hand, there aren’t any diseases known to specifically threaten Brugmansia plants.
Tips, Tricks, And Suggestions For Brugmansia
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is one way of dealing with certain garden variety pests.
Sprinkling small amounts of DE around the base of the plants from time to time should keep the critters at bay.
There are two ways to increase the acidity of the soil.
If it’s compacted, you can add iron sulfate or sulfur to it. If it’s loose, you can add organic material to it. Compost should do the trick.
To check the soil, you can just scoop some from around the base of the plant and feel it with your hands.
Best Ways To Use In Design – Indoors Or Outdoors
Why pick angel trumpets for your garden? It’s simple.
With a warm climate and proper watering, Brugmansia species bloom in late spring and can keep blooming until early winter.
Therefore, they can offer a lot to landscaping projects that use year-round plants or various seasonal plants.
Brugmansia tends to grow really tall. But that doesn’t mean you can’t grow it indoors.
It’s just not recommended because it’s very toxic to humans and animals so it’s best to keep it out of reach.
Angel Trumpet Buying Tips
Buying Brugmansia plants is best done at specialized nurseries or cultivators.
Although getting seeds or cuttings online is tempting, the cuttings are very sensitive and they should be quickly prepped for planting, which means the shipping costs might run high.
If you buy a cutting, always look at how many nodes it has. The more the merrier.
Also, you might want to ask about some high-quality fertilizers and well-draining pot mixture if you plan on growing the plants inside.
What Are The Most Popular Brugmansia Species And Varieties?
Brugmansia suaveolens or the white angel trumpet native to Brazil is considered one of the most popular.
It has a sweet fragrance and a unique flower development that always curves outwards as opposed to straight down like all other species in the genus.
Since angel trumpet is also used to describe flowers from the Datura genus, it’s a common misconception that Brugmansia species are also night bloomers.
Brugmansia hybrids and Brugmansia vulcanicola are also popular varieties since they tend to come in multiple colors, almost always including a combination of pink and yellow.
Summary
Although the various Brugmansia species are some of the most toxic plants in the Solanaceae family, they look too amazing to pass up if you can offer them the proper growing conditions.
The color variety is very appealing and the long hanging flowers have a very soothing fragrance that can improve the air quality in any home.
[1] https://news.aces.edu/blog/2018/06/29/growing-angels-trumpet/
[2] http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/199200529.html