Melinda Myers

Angel's Trumpet

Botanical Name

Brugmansia spp.

Min Zone

8

Max Zone

10

Height

3 to 15 feet

Width

2 to 6 feet

Flowers

Seasonal: pendulous trumpet or funnel, 4 to 24 inches; singles, doubles, triples, quadruples; white, yellow, gold, orange, red, peach, pink; fragrant

Light

Full sun, plants growing in hotter climates will benefit from a bit of afternoon shade

Soil

Moist, well-drained, fertile

Planting & Care

• In colder regions, container grown plants must be overwintered indoors before the first frost
• Plants grown in ground will need to be lifted in cold climates and stored in a frost-free location with minimal watering
• Plants wintering indoors can be treated as a houseplant if grown in a greenhouse or given enough light with temperatures above 60°. Flowering will continue if given moderate amounts of fertilizer.
• It is easiest and more common to overwinter Brugmansia by letting the plant go dormant.  Store plant in a cool, dark location.  Water the plant only often enough to keep the soil barely moist. Dormant plants will drop their leaves as they go thru their winter rest.
• Wait until all danger of frost has passed before moving plants back outside in spring - harden off the plants by slowly increasing their exposure to light and wind over the course of a few days.
• Upon moving plants back outdoors, plants can be pruned to limit size, shape or encourage fuller growth
• Fertilize plants regularly and often during the growing serason to promote growth and flowering
• Brugmansia will require regular and frequent watering, not allowing the soil to dry while not allowing the plant to stand in water
• Plants can be easily propagated by cuttings

Problems

Whiteflies, mealybugs, mites, aphids

Varieties

• Brugmansia sanguinea - true red flowers, no fragrance
• Inca Sun - continual yellowish-peach bloomer, 4 to 6 feet in container
• Jamaican Yellow - fragrant lemon yellow flowers
• Brugmansia suaveolens 'Pink Delight' - light pink flowers
• Charles Grimaldi - highly fragrant, prolific gold flowers maturing to orange-salmon