How to grow brugmansia

What are brugmansias?

Also known as angel's trumpets, these tender tropical shrubs or small trees are grown for their highly fragrant flowers. White, red or pastel shades of pink, orange or yellow, the large flared trumpets hang from the branches throughout summer. The flowers can grow to an impressive size – up to 30cm (1ft) long – and waft their heady perfume far and wide, especially on warm evenings. 

Brugmansias come from tropical regions of South America. Here, most species are pollinated by moths, which is why the flowers are noticeably more fragrant in the evening. Only one species, Brugmansia sanguinea, has no fragrance, as the flowers are pollinated in the wild by hummingbirds, which are attracted by the bright red colour of the flowers.

Plants can flower very abundantly over a long period, especially more mature specimens. But they do need lots of water and feeding throughout the growing season, and must be kept above 7–10˚C (45–50˚F) in winter. 

Brugmansias are often confused with datura, which have similar trumpet flowers. However, with brugmansias the flowers hang downwards and the main stem and branches are woody. 

How and what to buy

You can buy a selection of brugmansias from online suppliers, particularly those specialising in exotic or conservatory plants. Some garden centres may also stock them. Plants are usually available from late winter to summer, in pots from 9cm (3½in) diameter upwards. Small plants are usually cheaper, but some may not bloom for a year or so, until they reach flowering size.

Before buying, make sure you have somewhere to keep your brugmansia over winter. Most need a temperature of at least 7–10˚C (45–50˚F) – see Planting, below. Brugmansias are vigorous growers and can reach well over 2m (6⅔ft) tall, so you need plenty of space to accommodate them. Still, you can prune them at the end of the

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

Buying: trees and shrubs

Buying: trees and shrubs

RHS guide to choosing healthy plants

RHS guide to choosing healthy plants

Where to plant

Plant brugmansias individually in large containers, to stand either indoors all year or outdoors in summer. You can also plant them temporarily into borders over the summer, then re-pot them and bring them indoors in autumn.

Indoors, brugmansias need bright light, such as in a conservatory or beside a large sunny window, or in a heated greenhouse.

Outdoors in summer, give them a warm, sheltered spot, in partial shade or sun. Planting in partial shade means they should dry out less quickly.

They do best in locations that receive plenty of summer rainfall, as they dislike dry conditions. In regions that have very low rainfall in summer, or in very free-draining soil, you will need to water them particularly well.

Brugmansias make eye-catching focal points, and suit a wide range of garden styles, formal or informal, traditional or contemporary. These include exotic-style gardens, sheltered urban courtyards or patios, Mediterranean gardens, and more. They work well with other exotic plants, including dahlias.

When to plant 

• Plant indoors in late winter or early spring, and outdoors in late spring or early summer, depending on your local temperatures. See our guide to assessing your microclimate

• Keep them indoors until night temperatures are reliably above 7–10˚C (45–50˚F)

• Acclimatise them gradually to outdoor conditions by hardening off

How to plant

• Plant into a large container, about 60cm (2ft) in diameter

• Use John Innes No 3 compost.

• Water in well and continue watering at least daily until autumn

For full details, see our guide to planting in containers.

You can also plant them temporarily in borders over summer:

• Choose a warm, sheltered spot, in partial shade or sun (plants in partial shade will dry out less rapidly)

• They like rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soil, so dig in lots of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, before planting. Avoid waterlogged soil or very dry soil

• Spread a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface, to help prevent the soil drying out

• Brugmansias growing in the ground need less maintenance than those in containers, as they dry out less readily. However, they still need copious amounts of water (once or twice a day) and weekly feeding while in growth

See our step-by-step guide to planting shrubs.

All parts of this plant are highly toxic and the sap can be a skin irritant, so always wear gloves when handling brugmansias. 

 

Peat-free compost choices

Peat-free compost choices

Watering

Brugmansias are vigorous plants and need regular and generous watering during the growing season, from spring to autumn. This may mean watering daily, and even twice daily during hot spells.

• In containers, check the compost daily, as it can dry out very quickly. Try not to let it dry out fully right through the growing season

• Plants need more water if growing in full sun, as moisture will evaporate more readily. It's best to water in the early morning or evening, when temperatures are lower

• Although brugmansias like a lot of water, they dislike waterlogged conditions, so make sure drainage is good

• While plants may survive if they don't get enough water, they will struggle and may be reluctant to flower

• In winter, water only occasionally, as they will not be in active growth (see Overwintering below)

Water: collecting, storing and re-using

Water: collecting, storing and re-using

Feeding

• In spring, apply a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month, to help fuel their strong growth

• During the summer, apply a high-potassium feed, such as tomato fertiliser, at least once a week, to encourage flowering

Container maintenance

Container maintenance

Plant nutrition: feeding plants

Plant nutrition: feeding plants

Overwintering

Plants that are displayed outdoors in summer must be brought indoors before night temperatures drop below 7–10˚C (45–50˚F). This is also the time to prune them (see Pruning and Training below), which should make it easier to find a home for these large plants indoors.

You can look after brugmansias indoors in two ways – as houseplants or as dormant plants.

As houseplants

• Position plants in a warm spot in bright light, such as in a conservatory, by a large sunny window or in a heated greenhouse

• Water sparingly, about once a week, to keep them in leaf all winter

• Some plants may even flower in winter

As dormant plants

• Place in a cool (but not cold) location, with little or no light

• Most species need a minimum night temperature of 7–10°C (45–50°F) and day temperature of 10–12°C (50–54°F)

• Water sparingly, about once a month to keep the compost just damp

• Plants will lose their leaves and some of the shoots may die back, but the plants should recover in spring

• Possible locations include a garage, enclosed porch, large cupboard or cellar

• You could risk storing brugmansias in a shed or unheated greenhouse in milder locations, especially if you cover them with layers of fleece through the coldest months. However, this may be too cold for some plants, especially young ones, and they may not survive. It's best to take cuttings in autumn as an insurance (see Propagating below)

• Older, more established plants, and certain cultivars, may be more tolerant of cold

To return brugmansias into growth:

• In early spring, start watering more regularly, and move plants into good light (if they aren't already)

• Keep them indoors until night temperatures are reliably above 7–10˚C (45–50˚F)

• Acclimatise them gradually to outdoor conditions by hardening off

Caring for older plants

• Brugmansias can live for many years if given the right conditions (see Planting above). They are vigorous growers and may reach 2m (6⅔ft) tall or considerably more if left unpruned

• Re-pot them every three or four years, into a slightly larger container. Do this in early spring, once they start into growth

• If it's impractical to increase the pot size, then top-dress annually in spring. Remove the top 5cm (2in) of compost and replace it with fresh compost. See our guide to container maintenance

• If plants start to get too large or misshapen, they can be cut back hard in late summer and should regenerate well. See our guide to renovative pruning

Brugmansias are naturally vigorous, so prune them annually to keep them at a manageable size:

• Prune in autumn, when you move the plant back indoors

• Aim to maintain a permanent framework of well-spaced branches

• You can cut back new growth to within 2.5cm (1in) of the older wood

• Some plants produce suckers (vigorous shoots) from the base. You can cut these away if you want to keep the plant as a neat single-stemmed tree

• The prunings can be used as cuttings, to make more plants (see Propagating below)

• Always wear gloves when pruning, as all parts of the plant are highly toxic and the sap can irritate skin

• If brugmansias become overgrown, they will tolerate hard pruning – see our guide to renovative pruning

Sharpening hand tools

Sharpening hand tools

There are a couple of ways to produce new plants:

• Take semi-ripe and softwood cuttings about 10–15cm (4–6in) long. These should root readily. Insert cuttings into sandy, free-draining compost with bottom heat of 18–21°C (65–70°F) in spring or late autumn
• Sow seeds at 16°C (60°F) in spring. A heated propagator will speed up germination and improve the success rate. See our step-by-step guide to sowing seeds indoors

All parts of this plant are highly toxic and the sap can be a skin irritant, so always wear gloves when handling cuttings and seeds. If storing seeds, keep them in a secure place, out of reach of children.

Propagation techniques

Propagation techniques

Seed: collecting and storing

Seed: collecting and storing

Brugmansias are generally long-lived shrubs or small trees that are robust and healthy if grown in the correct conditions (see Planting above).

However, if the leaves start to discolour or drop, it is usually a sign of:

• overwatering or waterlogging – so reduce watering, especially in winter, and/or improve drainage

• nutrient deficiency 

If your plant isn't flowering:

• Feed weekly from late spring onwards with a high-potassium fertiliser, such as tomato feed

• Water copiously throughout the growing season

• It may be too small – most brugmansias need to reach a certain size before flowering. Generally plants form a single stem for 1m (3⅓ft) or so, then start to branch. At this point they are usually ready to flower. Plants grown from cuttings may take three or more years to reach flowering size, those grown from seed may take even longer (see Propagation above)

• Its container may be too small – re-pot into a slightly larger container every three or four years. See our guide to container maintenance

When grown indoors, brugmansias are prone to various common sap-feeding glasshouse pests, including:

• Red spider mite, which causes the leaves to appear speckled or bleached. 

• Whitefly 

• Mealybugs 

Controlling pests and diseases without chemicals

Controlling pests and diseases without chemicals

Preventing pest and disease problems

Preventing pest and disease problems