Angel's trumpet

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; give afternoon shade in very hot climates and shelter from strong winds.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth. Large container plants may need daily watering in hot weather; reduce watering substantially during cool winter rest.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; use a rich, free-draining container compost in pots.

Height

6-12 ft (1.8-3.7 m)

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Flowers

Summer to autumn, often in repeated flushes; large, hanging white, cream, yellow or pink trumpets, depending on the selection.

Foliage

Evergreen. Large, soft green, oval leaves; leaves may drop during cool weather, drought or indoor winter storage.

Growth

Fast in warm weather with sufficient water and nutrients.

Care needed

High

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   6 ft (1.9 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Fast

• Use a large, heavy container with drainage holes to support the top-heavy growth.
• Water thoroughly during active growth, but do not leave the pot standing in water.
• Feed container plants weekly with a balanced liquid fertiliser during vigorous growth, following the label rate.
• Mulch garden plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the main stem.
• Move container plants into a frost-free shelter before the first frost; keep resting plants only lightly moist.
• Wear gloves when handling or pruning, and keep cuttings and fallen flowers away from children and animals.

Pruning. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood and shorten awkward branches. Retain some growth above the first Y-shaped flowering fork where possible, since cutting back below it can delay flowering.

Late winter

Check overwintering plants for pests and rot, and prune before strong new growth begins.

Spring

Repot or refresh the surface compost, then increase watering as shoots develop.

Late spring

After frost risk has passed, gradually acclimatise sheltered plants to outdoor light and wind.

Summer

Water frequently, feed regularly and inspect leaf undersides for mites and whitefly.

Early autumn

Reduce feeding as growth slows and prepare a frost-free winter space.

Late autumn

Bring pots under cover before frost; reduce watering if the plant loses its leaves.

• Use a large container as a seasonal focal point in a sheltered courtyard.
• Plant behind lower foliage plants to display the hanging flowers clearly.
• Combine with cannas and elephant ears for a lush, tropical border.
• Place within scent range of an evening seating area, but away from paths, food preparation areas and places used by children or pets.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Modern courtyard, Sensory garden, Moon garden and Evening garden.

Plant it with: Cannas, Elephant ears, Coleus, Hardy banana, Fuchsias and New Guinea impatiens.

Wildlife: Fragrant flowers can attract long-tongued moths in warm climates, although double-flowered forms offer poorer access. This highly poisonous plant is not a suitable choice where livestock can reach it.

• Red spider mites cause pale stippling and webbing, especially under cover; inspect leaf undersides, rinse foliage and use an appropriate labelled treatment or biological control.
• Whitefly gathers beneath leaves and produces sticky honeydew; use insecticidal soap where labelled, repeating treatment as directed, or introduce greenhouse biological controls.
• Wilting and bud drop often follow dry roots or extreme heat; water deeply and provide afternoon shade in hot locations.
• Root rot develops in cold, waterlogged compost; improve drainage, empty saucers and water sparingly during winter rest.

Highly toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. All parts, including leaves, flowers, seeds and nectar, contain tropane alkaloids; swallowing them can cause delirium, rapid heartbeat, seizures, coma and death. Never use it in food or drinks. Suspected ingestion needs immediate medical or veterinary attention.

• Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)

  An herbaceous annual with upright flowers and prickly seed capsules; angel's trumpet has woody stems and hanging flowers. Both are highly poisonous.

• Scarlet angel's trumpet (Brugmansia sanguinea)

  Usually has narrower, yellow-to-orange or red flowers with little or no fragrance, rather than the broad, strongly scented trumpets typical of Brugmansia × candida.

• Golden angel's trumpet (Brugmansia aurea)

  A parent of this hybrid with overlapping flower colours and forms; reliable separation can require detailed floral characters and known provenance rather than colour alone.

Brugmansia honours Dutch naturalist Sebald Justinus Brugmans, candida means white, and angel's trumpet describes the shape of the flowers.

Propagation. Take stem cuttings in spring or summer and root them in moist, free-draining compost with warmth. Cuttings preserve the parent plant's characteristics; seedlings may differ. Wear gloves and dispose of trimmings securely.

Accepted botanical name

Brugmansia candida

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.