How to Grow and Care for Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia)

Angel’s Trumpet Care

Angel’s trumpet is a fairly low-maintenance perennial. Here’s how to care for angel’s trumpet:

• Plant angel’s trumpet in moist, well-draining soil, in a location that receives full sun exposure, which means at least six hours of direct sun per day.
• Protect angel’s trumpet from frost by moving it indoors once it gets cold in a perennial zone.
• Provide angel’s trumpet with lots of water, but let tap water sit for at least 24 hours so chemicals can evaporate.
• Water whenever the top couple inches of soil are dry or angel’s trumpet begins to wilt, which should be rare in winter but could be necessary times per day in summer.

Planting

Plant angel’s trumpet in the spring, so it has time to establish before blooming in summer. Choose a location with well-draining soil and at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Dig a hole larger than the plant’s root ball, place the plant in the hole, and backfill it with more soil, and water thoroughly.

Light

Plant angel’s trumpet in a spot that boasts full sun. However, in especially hot or dry environments, it can stand to have a bit of shade, especially during the warmer afternoon hours. Angel’s trumpet needs six to eight hours of sunlight daily to thrive and produce the best blooms.

Soil

Prepare moist but well-draining soil for angel’s trumpet that’s ideally high in organic matter. This perennial does not like to sit in soggy soil. This plant will typically do well in a potting mix designed for azaleas and camellias if grown in pots.

Water

Water angel’s trumpet well and often. It needs more water when the weather is warm. Container specimens may need to be watered twice a day during the peak of summer. Never let the soil dry out; give your plant at least 3 inches of water a week.

Temperature and Humidity

Keep angel’s trumpet warm. Outside its perennial zones (9 through 11), it shouldn’t be outside when the temperatures drop below 50°F. In cooler zones, plant your angel’s trumpet in a container that you can move to a dark, frost-free place, such as a garage. You can allow it to go dormant.

Fertilizer

Fertilize angel’s trumpet regularly. Use a water-soluble fertilizer, and avoid slow-release formulas, as these do not work fast enough for the plant. Bloom-boosting fertilizers, such as 15-30-15 or 10-50-10 mixtures, are best. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.

Types of Angel’s Trumpet

Brugmansia species have distinctive, drooping trumpet-shaped flowers, and most produce sweetly-scented blooms that open at night. The most significant difference between each species is bloom color.

• B. suaveolens: Native to Brazil, this cream-colored blooming plant is one of the most popular species.
• B. aurea: This plant sports yellow blooms and is often called a golden angel’s trumpet. It’s native to Ecuador and Venezuela.
• B. sanguine: This red-flowering species has no scent and is commonly pollinated by long-billed hummingbirds. It is native to Colombia and Chile.
• B. vulcanicola: Native to the Andean Mountains ranging from Colombia to Ecuador, this salmon-colored specimen is considered the rarest Brugmansia. Its ‘Rosa Lila’ hybrid is a rose-colored cultivar.
• B. arborea: This plant features the shortest angel’s trumpet flowers, often a whiter cream color than most.
• B. versicolor: This species from Ecuador has the largest flowers in pale apricot.
• B. ‘ Cypress Gardens’: Best for containers, the young plants often flower at 3 feet in height with dozens of white flowers that fade to a light salmon with age.

Pruning

Trimming angel’s trumpet will keep the plant producing flowers constantly. If growing it as a small tree, begin to prune when the main trunk forms its first “Y” and choose a central leader as the trunk.

Angel’s trumpet flowers will eventually appear on the terminal ends of the stems. The best time to prune angel’s trumpet is typically in the fall. Keep at least six to 10 nodes on the branches. Wear gloves when pruning, as the sap can irritate the skin.

Propagating Angel’s Trumpet

Angel’s trumpet can be successfully propagated through seeds and cuttings in the spring. Stem cuttings are the best method because the plant will mature quicker than from seed. Here’s how to propagate from a stem cutting:

1. Wear gloves, and cut a stem of semi-ripe wood, measuring back 10 inches from the tip of the selected cutting.
2. Make a cut 14-inch below a set of leaves using the pruning shears. Strip off the bottom set of leaves just above the cut to expose the leaf nodes.
3. Apply rooting hormone to the cut end and bury the cut end in moistened potting soil. Firmly pack the soil around the stem to hold it up.
4. Put the pot in a slightly shady spot, and cover it with plastic. Water the plant from the bottom by placing the pot (with bottom drainage holes) in a tray of water.
5. After a few weeks, the cutting will develop a good root system and can be transplanted into the garden or a larger pot.

How to Grow Angel’s Trumpet from Seed

Here are the steps for growing angel’s trumpet from seed:

1. Moisten a quality potting mix in a pot and lay the seed on the soil surface.
2. Cover with about 14 to 12 inch of soil.
3. Keep the soil moist.
4. Place the pot in a warm place and look for signs of germination.
5. Note that germination can take two weeks to several months, but most seedlings will emerge within a month.

What’s the Difference Between Angel’s Trumpet and Datura?

Angel’s trumpet and datura are interchangeably called angel’s trumpets. They look similar, come from the Solanaceae family, and are toxic plants. However, angel’s trumpet plants can grow up to 20 feet tall with larger, pendulous flowers that face downward and last longer.

Datura only grows up to 4 feet tall; its trumpeting flowers face upward; and its round, spiny seed pods self-sow easily. Angel’s trumpet has smooth, elongated seed pods that do not self-sow. Datura flowers are usually white or white and purple, while angel’s trumpet flowers are white or yellow.

Potting and Repotting Angel’s Trumpet

Angel’s trumpet can grow well in containers, especially if you plan to keep them outdoors in a non-tropical zone. Plant in a 24-inch diameter container. You will need to bring it in if the temperatures drop below 50°F.

Keep your potted angel’s trumpet thoroughly watered while outside. Potted plants need more water than in-ground plants. Expect to water your outdoor angel’s trumpet at least twice daily at the height of the season’s hot, sunny days.

Overwintering

Once winter sets in and outdoor temps drop below 50°F, bring in your angel’s trumpet. Water it when the soil dries out, like any other houseplant. It may flower while inside if the temperatures are kept above 60°F, it receives adequate light, and it’s fertilized well.

If you’d rather allow it to go dormant, place it in a dark garage, basement, or closet (not colder than 50°F). You can trim it back by a third and it will not harm the plant. Only water it sparingly, about once a month. It may lose its leaves and look dead, but as long as the trunk is green, it’s still alive.

Common Pests

Whiteflies are a big problem for angel’s trumpet. Spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids are also common. Other pests that may appear include cucumber beetles, slugs, and snails.

To treat these pest infestations, use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol on a cotton ball or swab to dab the insects. Or, make a spray solution of equal parts water and isopropyl alcohol and spray the plant. You can also treat the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap to repel pests.

How to Get Angel’s Trumpet to Bloom

Only a mature angel’s trumpet will bloom. If you started from seeds, it could take up to five years before seeing blooms. Propagating your angel’s trumpet from a cutting might speed up the process, but it can still take about four years.

Bloom Months

Expect your angel’s trumpet to bloom late springearly summer through September.

How Long Does Angel’s Trumpet Bloom?

Angel’s trumpet usually blooms until fall, but in certain climates (and if given proper care) it can bloom year-round.

What Do Angel’s Trumpet Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Angel’s trumpet produces yellow, orange, white, and pink flowers with a beautiful, strong fragrance (similar to aniseed). The blooms are trumpet-shaped, 6 to 10 inches long, and face downward.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Angel’s trumpet needs ample water to produce blooms and good drainage for root health. It’s also a heavy feeder, requiring fertilizer regularly. If all of these factors are met, ensure it’s not root-bound.

If angel’s trumpet is in a container that is too small, it may not produce flowers. Move it to a larger container, water it, and feed it.

Caring for Angel’s Trumpet After It Blooms

Feed every two to three weeks with a fertilizer. Keep the plant outdoors during the growing season as this plant will not bloom indoors.

Common Problems with Angel’s Trumpet

This plant requires little care and eventually yields some of the most noteworthy blossoms in the garden. However, angel’s trumpet is susceptible to pests and diseases that can compromise the health and longevity of the plant.

Stunted Plant Growth and Blotches

Mosaic virus and tomato spotted wilt are common viruses that affect plants in the Solanaceae family. They both can cause stunted plant growth and irregular streaking or blotches.

Though the plant may survive and bounce back with proper care, these viruses are permanent and cannot be cured. Avoid planting angel trumpets next to heirloom tomatoes or tobacco plants (Nicotiana spp.) to prevent these viruses.

Wilting Leaves

Fusarium and verticillium wilt are two fungal infections. Both fungi affect the roots and travel up the stem, stopping water from entering the plant and causing wilted foliage.

Fusarium wilt usually occurs in warm weather, while verticillium wilt is more common in cooler temperatures. There is no cure; you can only manage the disease. The fungi can live in the soil for a long time. The best bet is to start with new plants and new soil.

Blackening Leaves and Smelly Odor

Root rot is a common fungal disease caused by excessive watering. You can prevent root rot by keeping the potting mix moist but never soggy. Decrease watering when temperatures drop in late summer or autumn.

It can be deadly, but if root rot is caught early enough, you might be able to save the plant. Pull the root ball out of the container; cut away rotten, mushy roots; sterilize the potting container; and plant the healthy portion of the root in fresh, well-draining soil.