When I had a shady, forest-like garden in Northern Virginia, I dreamed of having some of the exotic flowers that thrived in warm, sunny spots growing in my gardens. And, on what was truly a whim (I mean, if I'd really thought it through completely, I would have known it could never grow well (or really at all) in such shade as was my yard!) I bought an Angel's Trumpet Flower, planted it in a pretty pot and put it on our back patio for the summer.

I had been enticed by the stunning photos in a gardening catalog of a beautiful, HUGE Angel's Trumpet plant - an almost bush or tree-like plant with what looked like hundreds upon hundreds of long, pastel flowers showering down from it.

I was sure it would be a hummingbird mecca in my yard and I was sure that I needed one, and QUICK.

I had very high hopes for it, but, like so many other sun loving plants, it ended up being a disappointment in my shady garden. It only got to be a few feet tall, flowered a little, but nothing to write home about, and eventually died back and was finally put to rest in the compost pile. I blamed the shade and never thought of trying another one.

Honestly, I wasn't THAT disappointed about it. I think just about everything on Angel's Trumpet plants is poisonous (flowers, leaves, seeds, everything!), so I was always a bit worried about that. And, although the flowers smelled nice, the plant itself (the leaves and stem) absolutely stunk. I don't know what it was about it, but I found the smell of it to be rather disgusting. I didn't want to touch it or brush against it for fear of the smell.

Fast forward about 7 years.

I had just about completely forgotten that Angel's Trumpet Flowers existed ... until something sprouted in our vegetable garden this summer and I had a feeling, or a slight tinge of a memory (was it the smell?) that this "weed" was an Angel's Trumpet Flower, or some close relative.

So, I left it alone -- after all, I've learned that if you aren't sure what a plant is, leave it alone until you do or you'll pull out something that you were sure you couldn't live without last year, but completely forgot you had planted.

Better safe than sorry.

My photos here are of the Angel's Trumpet or Devil's Trumpet (I haven't yet completely decided for sure which it is) growing smack dab in the middle of a path in my veggie garden today ...

The plant is about 2 1/2 feet tall, has long, dark green leaves, burgundy-purple stems, and long white flowers with purple inside.

And, the plant is making lots of spiky, seed pods.

I can't really decide if the flowers are pointing up or down ...

In the photo above, the flowers are pointing up. But there are others that are sort of going out horizontally (not really up or down) and some that point down a little. Overall, I think they are pointing up.

Why does that matter, you ask?

There really are both Angel's Trumpet and Devil's Trumpet plants and one of the ways to tell the difference is by the direction the flowers are pointing. Angel's Trumpet plants (or Brugmansia) have flowers that point down. Devil's Trumpet plants (or Datura) have flowers that point up. You know, the Angel's Trumpets are as if an angel in heaven is tooting on the flower down to us below (the flowers point down), and the Devil's Trumpet is like the devil is tooting up to us (the flowers point up).

Interesting stuff, huh? Wonder just who came up with that?

Brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet) vs Datura (Devil's Trumpet)

According to the International Brugmansia and Datura Society (yes, there IS such a thing!) there are differences between the plants other than which direction their flowers point: "Brugmansia are woody perennials, growing to form shrubs or small trees.  Datura are herbaceous annuals or short-lived perennials, not forming woody growth."

I think I've got a Devil's Trumpet Flower here. And, if that's the case, it probably won't make it through the winter.

But, my question is: should I dig it up and move it to see (it's right in the middle of a garden path now)? I like the flowers and if it's growing outside where I don't brush against it or don't have to touch it or re-pot it, I won't have to worry about the smell. I'm in zone 7b/8a (leaning more toward 8a).

What do you think?

Hi there, I'm Caryl and I'm really glad to see you here! From starting seeds, to planning, creating and growing a garden, canning, preserving and feasting on the harvest, and creating some fun & creative projects along the way, AGrowingGarden.com is my journey to create a sustainable, beautiful, and bountiful garden. Happy Gardening!


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