Brugmansia Fragrance

Brugmansia cultivars love the heat and humidity

A week ago today, the buds on this yellow Brugmansia were only an inch ,ong or so, and in this short time of seven days, the blossoms are about a foot long. Growth over an inch a day is not unusual for tropcial plants such as these.
The current craze for tropical plants used as annuals is making fastg rowing giants like these and other plants available at most garden centers, but I remember when, as a kid in the 1960’s our neighbor had a Brugmansia tree which he kept potted in an old horse trough in his cellar during the winter, and in the summer, it would be planted in his front yard where it’s foot-long fragrant blossoms would halt traffic.

Brugmansia, then classified as Datura and later taxonomists reclassified it, are easy tog row as long as you follow a few key requirements. 1. Never let them dry out, or they will lose thier foliage and go into a semi dormant state, 2. Fertilize heavily, since fresh new growth and not woody growth is neccessary for good blossom set, and 3. Give them full sun and a large container.

These are frost tender, and really only like heat, so cold temps under 55 really affect thier growth. If you live in the north, as we do in New England, you can easily pull the pots back into the cellar and let the plants lose all thier leaves and go dry until spring, just make sure that they get some light, low temps and enough water to keep the stems greenish.