An impressive small shrubby tree whose beauty truly seems to have
been touched by the angels is the Brugmansia, commonly known as
Angel's Trumpet. Its gigantic tubular flowers not only reward the
eyes, but the nose as well. The blossoms of the Brugmansia are ten to
twelve inches
long and hang pendulous in mass profusion in pastel white,
peach, pink,
or yellow, depending on the variety. As I look at my beauty
on my
covered back porch, I see fourteen beautiful flowers all in bloom
during
the day and night.
Nighttime especially delights me. When the stars come
out, so does the
heady aroma of this tropical diva. I've noticed that when the
weather
cools down to the 70s, the blooms last for several days.
The searing
heat of a Texas summer shortens the length of their bloom
time. An
unusual observation is that the flowers seem to bloom during the
full
moon, although not every full moon. They have a resting period
between
their waves of blossoming.
If you live in growing zones 8 to 10, they can be grown outside
on the
southern exposure and will be perennial, coming back in the
spring from
the roots, or they may not freeze at all. A good idea is to
cut the plants
back to the ground before the first frost and mulch them deeply
with
leaves or commercial mulch. They like filtered sunlight
here in San Antonio, where they can reach 6 to 8 feet tall, but
in
climates without such fierce sun I understand that they like full
sun. Moist, well drained and
fertile soil is preferred. Fertilize them about twice a
month with a well balanced
liquid fertilizer containing trace elements. I like Miracle
Gro. They
are easily pruned to a desirable height.
Don't lose interest in these gorgeous flower trumpets if you live in a colder climate because you can grow them too with a little trouble. Grow them in a large pot (14"e; is probably as big as you can carry) and set them out in the warm 70 degree weather.
Some people even dig a large hole and plant them pot and all. When it cools down to the low 50s, it's time to bring them in for the winter. If you have a greenhouse, just prune them back to a size that fits and cut back on the water. If you don't have a greenhouse, they can be moved.
into the house or a
garage that stays above freezing
and allowed to go dormant by barely watering. The leaves
may fall off
and it won't be a pretty sight, but you are just keeping it alive
until it can be set out
in the warmth again.
These beauties are easy to root from cuttings. A very large branch broke off mine and I just stuck it into a pot of soil, thinking I would get back to it and cut four inch segments for rooting later. I never got back to it; and the whole, huge branch never missed a beat, but rooted well! A friend of mine has good luck just rooting them in water. I'm going to try that too. I bet you should let the cut dry out a little (as you do geraniums) before putting them in the water.
A word of caution: all parts of the Brugmansia are
poisonous. It is a
member of the Solanaceae family which contains the Deadly
Nightshade as
well as the tomato, potato and eggplant.
Southern Perennials and Herbs < http://www.s-p-h.com/ lists the
following
Brugmansia for
sale:
"Double White" growing to 6' tall, huge, double,white
trumpets
"Ecuador Pink" limited availability
"Charles Grimaldi" huge, pendulous, fragrant salmon
trumpets
"Orange" light orange trumpets in the late summer and
fall to 6' tall
"Jamaican Yellow" limited availability
"Suaveolens" white, pendulous trumpets in fall
"Versicolor" flowers white, turning apricot-peach with
age.
Sorry, but they cannot ship to California.
Happy growing dreams of springtime,
The Old Farmer's
Almanac - http://www.almanac.com
At this site you will enjoy the well known features
of the Farmer's Almanac that has been published
yearly since 1792. The Gardener's Companion has tips
for all from the beginner to the expert, frost charts
for the US and Canada and the outdoor planting table,
along with uncommon answers to common gardening
questions. Their section, Heavenly Details, provides
dates and locations of solar and lunar eclipse as
well as days of the full moon. From the archives of
the Farmer's Almanac you will enjoy traditional
crafts, historical esays and seasonal recipes. There
is a little bit for everyone at this site.
Marjie Scharff loves the quiet communication and beauty of plants. Many of her favorites have lived with her for over 25 years, along with assorted rocks and bits of smooth wood. She lives on two acres in San Antonio, Texas with deer, skunks, squirrels, raccoons and hawks. She is a member of the San Antonio Botanical Society and the Bexar County Master Gardeners.
Marjie invites you to write to her at mscha@mazal.org .