One of the more spectacular genera of fall-flowering plants is the tobacco relative, Brugmansia, in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The genus, Brugmansia, was named in 1805 to honor Sebald Brugmans (1763–1819), a natural history professor at Leiden University, Netherlands. These fragrant flowers are designed to attract pollinators that include large, nocturnal hawkmoths. Below is our clump of Brugmansia x candida ‘Double White’ in flower this week. Although they die to the ground in winter, they rebound to achieve heights of 5-7′ tall by fall. In colder climates, the stalks can be cut into 2′-3′ long canes, which can be stored in a bucket of slightly moist peat moss overwinter, and kept cool, but above freezing. These canes should root and can be planted the following year.
Toxic of course, awa beautiful, and close relative of Datura stramonium, which Haitian witch doctors use to create zombies.
Yes, we don’t recommend ingesting it, but folks don’t seem to mind ingesting it’s close, and equally toxic relative, Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). That’s truly one of the more bizarre things humans do, is to fight for their right to put toxins in their bodies. Hmmm.
Beautifully done
Greetings–
I’ve loved Brugmansia for years and got very spoiled by all the ones we saw in California. I had a beautiful one there that unfortunately succumbed to a virus after several glorious years. I grew one here in Winston Salem in a container on the deck; I had seen a few around town and thought they’d be marginally hardy, but mine died back and I stupidly got rid of it not knowing it would come back. I think I’ll try again.