Datura metel (Devil’s Trumpet)

Noted for its overpowering honeysuckle fragrance, Datura metel (Devil’s Trumpet) is a shrub-like, tender perennial often grown as an annual, boasting upward-facing trumpets, up to 7 in. long (17 cm), in shades of white, yellow, lilac and dark purple. Blooming from midsummer to frost, the ravishing single or double blossoms open in the evening and last until noon the following day. They give way to knobby, rounded capsules that split open when ripe to release their numerous seeds. Fast-growing, this warm season plant has a mounded habit and grows up to 3 ft. (90 cm), in a single growing season. The coarse foliage of ovate, wavy-toothed, dark green leaves, up to 8 in. long (20 cm), exudes an unpleasant odor when bruised or crushed. Datura is often confused with Brugmansia, however the latter has pendant trumpets which last for several days and woody stems. Datura metel is best suited as a specimen or background plant in mixed or annual borders where it adds a tropical feel. Place it where the delightful fragrance of its spectacular flowers can be enjoyed.

• Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall and wide (90-120 cm). Unless the seed capsules are removed before maturity, the plants tend to self-seed and can become invasive.
• A full sun lover, this plant is best grown in organically rich, moist, well-drained soils.
• Perfect for beds and borders, Mediterranean gardens or containers.
• May be grown from seed sown outdoors after the last frost or started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost and planted outdoors after all threat of frost has passed.
• Virtually disease free – watch for glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, thrips and mealybugs under glass.
• Native to southwestern China.
• All parts are highly toxic if ingested and sap may be an irritant