Culebra Brugmansia Plant

Culebra brugmansia is sometimes called angel's trumpet.

Culebra brugmansia, sometimes known as angel's trumpet, is a cultivar of Brugmansia aurea, a tropical plant native to the mountain slopes of Columbia. It is a member of the solanaceae, or nightshade, family. Brugmansia plants add an exotic touch to homes and landscapes.

History

Brugmansia has a rich history among the native peoples of South America where it is prized for its narcotic and medicinal properties. According to the University of Connecticut Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Plant Growth Facilities, the Inga and Kamsa Indians propagate the plants in their villages for use by witch doctors.

Characteristics

The culebra brugmansia plant is a shrub-type plant that grows to a height of 7 feet and boasts dramatic trumpet-shaped blooms. The blooms hang in a nodding position and average 5 inches in width and 6 inches in length. Brugmansia flowers every three to four weeks and has a slow to moderate growth rate. The blooms emit a pleasing fragrance at night.

Care

Brugmansia is a tropical plant that will do best in full sun and a rich, organic soil. You should fertilize it regularly to encourage flowering. It cannot tolerate cold conditions, so the University of Illinois Extension recommends overwintering the plant in a greenhouse. If a greenhouse is not available, you can force the plant to go dormant by placing it in an area with a constant temperature of approximately 40 degrees F. Do not water the plant during this period. In the spring, the extension experts advise repotting the plant and placing it in a warm area to restart growth.

Pests

Brugmansia is prone to a number of common pests including broad-nosed weevils, whitefly, spider mites and scale. Dr. Leonard Perry of the University of Vermont warns that whitefly can kill smaller brugmansia plants quickly, so treat it promptly.

Precaution

According the University of Connecticut , brugmansia is toxic if ingested. Keep the plant out of the reach of children and pets.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Tropical Punch
• University of Vermont: Brugmansia
• University of Connecticut Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Plant Growth Facilities