THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BRUGMANSIA
There are three things that can be nice to know about Brugmansia and all three facts a pretty interesting.
It is, first of all, a nice shrub/small tree with beautiful and exotic flowers. The Brugmansias are very easy to care for as long it gets some water. It can take a lot of droughts too, but will not flower much before it gets frequent water again. At least not here in our garden. But here are the three things you should know about Brugmansia.
- The plant is often confused with Datura, which also has trumpet-shaped flowers. But Datura has upwards facing flowers, while Brugmansia has pendulous flowers.
- Young Brugmansia seedlings grows straight up in one stem around 3ft (1m) before it branches out and gets multistemmed. It will not flower before it has made to this multistemmed “stage”.
- All part of the plant is poisonous.

Honestly, I don’t use many calories to care for my Brugmansia her in our Houston suburb garden.
The shrub was bought it on a plant sale when I first arrived here, almost three years ago. After a while, I planted it down in the ground squeezed between a Cycad (big, wide palmish shrub), some elephant ear and a butterfly bush.
I knew Brugmansia was sensitive to cold weather and winds, so I wrapped it in burlap the first winter. I give it some frequent fertilizer in the summer months and that’s that. When it flowered so generously now in August I gave the shrub some extra water and fertilizer.


BRUGMANSIA | |
DESCRIPTION | Shrub or small tree semi-woody stem. Large leaves, with kind of “pelt”-like surface on the upper side. Large trumpet formed downward hanging flowers. Flower colors from white, yellow, peach to red. Pleasant flower scent in the evening. |
HARDINESS | Tropical tree, USDA 10-13, depends on local variation. Will die if it’s not sheltered in cold spells. Mainly used as container plants (with great success!) in colder zones. Remember to water very frequently if it’s kept in a container. |
GROWING LOCATION | Sun or partial shade, low maintenance but needs frequent watering while established and to flower regularly. Needs a sheltered planting site, protected from cold winds. Mulch around the plant to stabilize the growth conditions. |
PRUNING AND CARE | Fertilize frequently (each month) from March to September with some all-purpose plant food. Remove unsightly wilted flowers. |
DISEASES | Generally trouble-free and drought tolerant while established. Will benefit from frequent watering. |
SUITABLE FOR | They are ideal plants for large pots on terraces and patios. Here in Texas, planted in the ground, it flowers in August and September. The flowers are very eye-catching and exotic. The shrub/small tree has a nice growth habit and can withstand careful pruning. |