Angel's Trumpet Brugmansia
Brugmansia suaveolens - Angel's Trumpet
Brugmansia suaveolens, known as Angel's Trumpet, is a fascinating shrub belonging to the Solanaceae family, native to Central and South America.
Characteristics
- Growth: Perennial, erect, with rapid growth, reaching 1.5-3 meters (up to 4.5m under ideal conditions).
- Trunk: Semi-woody, can be single or branched at the base, with herbaceous termination.
- Leaves: Membranous, thin, asymmetric at the base and acute at the apex, marked by impressed veins on the upper surface, 10-24 cm long, becoming larger when grown in shade.
- Flowers: Large, pendulous, funnel-shaped, with five teeth on the dilated calyx, can be white, pink, or yellow, 24–32 cm long, with a strong and pleasant fragrance more notable at night.
Uses
- Decoration: Used in gardens as a standalone plant, in groups forming masses and hedges.
- Landscaping: Valued for its impressive flowers.
Care
- Climate: Tropical, Subtropical, Equatorial. Appreciates cool conditions but can be grown in the tropics. Does not tolerate frosts and strong winds.
- Light: Full sun, though in very hot regions does not tolerate direct sun during the hottest hours of the day.
- Soil: Fertile, rich in organic matter and well-drained.
- Watering: Regular, keeping the soil slightly moist.
- Fertilization: Twice a year, once in early spring with organic fertilizer and bone meal, and in summer with NPK 4-14-8 chemical fertilizer. Apply under the canopy projection, never near the trunk.
Observations
- Hybridization: Brugmansia has a high degree of hybridization and is considered extinct in the wild, thus can be considered a fully domesticated plant.
- Safety: Included in the list of low flammability plants by the Tasmanian fire protection service, indicating it can be used without risk in building fire protection zones against wildfires.
Curiosity
- The flowers of Angel's Trumpet are notable for their beauty and fragrance, especially at night.
