Angel Trumpet, Brugmansia suaveolens, in orange, pink or white

Angel-trumpet seeds

Brugmansia suaveolens is also known as Brazil's Angel Trumpet. In the past the plant was also known under the Latin name Datura suaveolens. The species is native so South America and belongs to the nightshades that are known to be poisonous. Brugmansia suaveolens grows as a shrub and reaches a height of about 5 m. The leaves are very big, they can get 30 cm long. They are ovate and taper. The leaves of Brugmansia suaveolens are pubescent on both sides. The leaves of the flowers of the Brazil's white Angel Trumpet are grown together building a tube. The tube shaped flower gets 30 cm long. That looks similar to an Angel trumpet, like the nickname of the species suggests. The flowers have a strong odor, especially in the evening. With this odor moths, the pollinators of Brugmansia suaveolens, are attracted. The wonderful flowers are the reasons why the Brazil's white Angel Trumpet became a popular ornamental plant in Europe. The flowers are white at the base and become yellowish or pinkish at the front. The flowers are hanging down. Many tribes in South America like Brugmansia suaveolens because of its hallucinogenic effect. However the difference between the hallucinogenic dose and the lethal dose are very small. Many accidents with teenagers are known that thought that Brugmansia suaveolens would be a perfect cheap drug. If it is not for nothing that the Brazil's white Angel Trumpet was used for abortion of pregnancies in the past. Brugmansia suaveolens contains atropine a very strong poisonous substance that can cause cardiac arrest. All parts of the Brazil's white Angel Trumpet are poisonous, especially the seeds and the leaves. Before planting the seeds they should be put into warm water for 12 hours. After that they can be sown 1 cm deep into the substrate. At a surrounding temperature of about 23°C the seeds start to germinate in the moist substrate just after 2 to 4 weeks. Brugmansia suaveolens needs a sunny place and is not winter hardy.