Datura Cultivation

Datura is a good candidate for night gardens.

Datura, commonly known as devil's trumpet, angel's trumpet, thorn apple or jimson weed, is a highly-fragrant, self-seeding annual perfect for night, or moon gardens. Wear gloves when working with this toxic plant. Keep datura plants, leaves, flowers and seeds away from pets, livestock and children.

Propagation

Spiny datura seed pod.

Grow datura from seed in the spring. The germination time for datura seeds ranges from 14 to 30 days when the temperature is between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Colorado State University.

Growing Conditions

Triple-flowered datura.

Datura prefers to grow in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Plants grown in full sun may require a daily watering to keep the leaves from wilting. Datura is a heavy feeder, so amend the soil with compost and then add a time-release fertilizer to the soil according to the package directions.

Pest Problems

Pests do not seem bothered by the toxicity of datura.

Pests tend to avoid datura with the exception of Japanese beetles, slugs and spider mites. It is best to remove Japanese beetles and slugs by hand. Use a strong spray of water from a hose to remove spider mites, making sure to get the underside of the leaves.

References

• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Jimsonweed
• North Carolina State University: Datura stramonium
• Arizona State University Cooperative Extension: Sacred Datura
• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Datura
• West Virginia University Extension: Jimsonweed Poisoning in Humans and Animals

Resources

• "Brugmansia and Datura"; Ulrike Preissel and Hans-Georg Preissel; 2002