Annuals Dictionary: Datura
Potato family
Solanaceae
Dah-toor’ra. A genus of 12-15 species, ranging from annual weeds to tropical trees, all with foliage that is malodorous when crushed.
Description
Leaves alternate, often coarsely but remotely toothed. Flowers usually trumpet-shaped, solitary, mostly from the leaf axils. Calyx with a long tube splitting lengthwise or across. Corolla with a spreading limb.
How to Grow
Daturas are slow to develop and bloom. For autumn flowers, start seeds indoors in midwinter. Germinate at 65-70° F (18.5-21.0° C). Transplant outdoors in full sun 2-3 weeks after danger of frost is past. Although they will grow in ordinary soil, they do best in enriched, moist soil. Will overwinter where only light frost occurs. The species below prefer warm weather.
Datura inoxia
Angel’s Trumpet . To 3 ft. (90 cm) high, spreading, gray-hairy. Flowers white to pink or lavender, to 8 in. (20 cm) long, tubular. Sw. U.S. and Mexico. Commonly offered as D. meteloides . Tender perennial grown as a tender annual.
Datura Metel
Horn-of-Plenty ; Trumpet Flower ; Angel’s Trumpet . To 5 ft. (1.5 m) high. Flowers 7 in. (17.5 cm) long, 4 in. (10 cm) wide, calyx purple and tubular, corolla white, violet, or yellow. India. There are double-flowered varieties, and some have variously colored flowers, such as the cultivar ‘Huberana’ with blue, yellow, and red blossoms. Seeds are poisonous. Tender annual.