Melinda Myers

Jimsonweed

Botanical Name

Datura spp.

Min Zone

9

Max Zone

10

Height

2 to 5 feet

Width

3 to 6 feet

Flowers

Summer to frost: pink, lavender, purple, white; upward-facing trumpets, fragrant

Fruit

Spiny, egg-shaped capsule that splits open in 4 sements when ripe, exposing numerous black, kidney-shaped seeds

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Other common names include Jamestown weed, thorn apple, downy thornapple, devil's trumpet, angel's trumpet, mad apple and stinkwort
• Because of its toxicity, caution should be exercised when handling, siting and planting
• Start seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost, harden off and set plants out after last frost date
• Give plants room, space about 3 feet apart
• May self seed in the garden
• Container plants may be overwintered indoors in a sunny window
• Toxic plants are of concern around children, pets and livestock

Problems

All parts of this plant are extremely toxic to people and animals

Varieties

• Datura metel 'Ballerina Purple' - twisted, silver white petals striped in purple, 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
• D. metel 'Ballerina Yellow' - ruffled soft lemon yellow blooms
• D. meteloides 'Evening Fragrance' - lavender tinted flower buds open to white
• D. discolor 'Desert Thorn Apple' - white trumpets with indigo blue throats