We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Brugmansia?

Niki Acker
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,391
Share

Brugmansia is a genus of flowering trees or shrubs with seven species, all native to subtropical South America. The plants are collectively called Angel's Trumpets or Angel's Tears, along with plants of the genus Datura. Brugmansia plants grow to be 10 to 36 feet (3 to 11 meters) in height.

These plants feature large, hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers that may be single or double. The flowers have a light, pleasant scent, and may be red, yellow, orange, pink, or white. The leaves are covered in fine hair and may be variegated in some cultivars.

Brugmansia is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its beautiful flowers. The plants are easy to grow in a moist and fertile, but well-drained soil in frost free climates. They prefer full to partial sun. Outdoor plants require protection during cold winters, but the roots are hardy and typically re-sprout in the spring. Brugmansia flowers have a very long blooming season, lasting from late spring through the fall, and sometimes into early winter.

The genus is often subdivided into two groups, or sections. Section Brugmansia, or the warm-growing group, includes B. aurea, B. insignis, B. sauveolens, and B. versicolor. Section Sphaerocarpium, also called the cold-growing group, includes B. arborea, B. sanguinea, and B. vulcanicola. There are also many hybrids and cultivars within the genus. Plants of the warm-growing group are less tolerant of cold weather, while plants of the cold-growing group, which grow at higher elevations in the wild, prefer moderate temperatures and may not bloom if it is very hot.

All parts of a Brugmansia plant are poisonous and can be potentially fatal to humans and animals if ingested. They contain the toxins atropine and scopolamine. It is very important to supervise children and pets around the plants.

Whether ingested or inhaled, the plant can cause hallucinations, dilated pupils, dry mouth, fever, increased pulse and blood pressure, weakened muscles, and paralysis. If the plant comes into contact with the eyes, both dilation and unequal pupil size can result. In some places, the cultivation, sale, and purchase of Brugmansia plants is illegal because of the potential danger it presents.

Brugmansia has been used in some shamanic traditions for ritual intoxication, especially among the indigenous groups of Peru and Ecuador, where many of the plants grow in the wild. Consuming the plant is always dangerous, however, since the amounts of toxin are unpredictable.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Niki Acker
By Niki Acker
"In addition to her role as a WiseGeek editor, Niki Foster is passionate about educating herself on a wide range of interesting and unusual topics to gather ideas for her own articles. A graduate of UCLA with a double major in Linguistics and Anthropology, Niki's diverse academic background and curiosity make her well-suited to create engaging content for WiseGeekreaders. "

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Niki Acker
Niki Acker
"In addition to her role as a WiseGeek editor, Niki Foster is passionate about educating herself on a wide range of...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-brugmansia.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.