Datura

Scientific Name: Datura spp.
Common Names: Devil's Trumpet, Jimsonweed, Thorn Apple
Native to: Native to the Americas, primarily tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America
Lighting Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Prefers bright, direct sunlight for optimal growth and flowering.
Height: 3 to 6 feet, depending on the variety
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Winter Look: Typically dies back in colder climates and is often treated as an annual. In frost-free areas, it can be evergreen and perennial.
Seasonal Interest: Summer to fall, with large, trumpet-shaped flowers blooming throughout the growing season.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate. Requires regular watering, especially in dry conditions, but does not tolerate prolonged wet or soggy soil.
Soil Requirements: Well-draining, rich, and moderately fertile soil. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil.
pH Range: 6.0 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9 to 11 (often grown as an annual in colder zones)
Deer Resistance: Low. Deer may nibble on Datura, but it is not a primary food source.
Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators
Toxicity: Highly toxic to humans, pets (especially cats and dogs), and livestock. All parts of the plant, especially the seeds and flowers, contain toxic compounds like tropane alkaloids, which can cause serious harm or death if ingested.
Potential Issues: Susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and fungal diseases. Can attract pests like caterpillars and whiteflies.
Notes: Datura is known for its dramatic, large, trumpet-shaped flowers, which can be white, purple, yellow, or pink, and its distinctive spiny seed pods. It has a strong, sometimes unpleasant fragrance, especially at night. While it is a striking ornamental plant, caution is needed due to its toxicity. It should be kept away from children and pets, and care should be taken when handling the plant. Datura is sometimes confused with Brugmansia (another member of the same family), but Datura typically has upright flowers, while Brugmansia’s flowers hang downward.