Fanfare and warning

By BETTE SMITH

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 12, 2000

PLANT: Brugmansia species and hybrids, commonly called angel's trumpets, and formerly classified as Datura arborea species, meaning tree-like.

ORIGIN: Tropical Americas.

CHARACTERISTICS: Woody shrubs or small trees that may produce large, pendulous flowers several times a year in white, yellow, pink, orange, salmon or flame red. Plants may produce root suckers that form new plants. Although grown in many types of soil, these members of the nightshade or Solanaceae family are not salt-tolerant. Propagation is from seeds or cuttings. Cold weather can kill to the ground, but plants return from roots in central and south Florida.

GROWING TIPS: Bear in mind that these extremely beautiful, interesting flowers and all parts of the plants contain poisons and should be kept out of reach of children, who might put part of the plant in their mouths. Even the fragrance of the flowers may cause headache, dizziness, weakness, stupor and nausea for some individuals. However, most public gardens have at least one brugmansia plant, set away from the paths and people, a good plan in any garden.

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