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Herbaceous Perennial

Datura metel 'Blackcurrant Swirl' (d)

A tender deciduous perennial, grown as an annual in cooler climates. It produces large green leaves and trumpet-shaped white flowers, flushed with dark purple during the summer. The flowers give off a fragrance at night

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten, skin irritant, avoid eye contact. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Datura can be large annuals or short-lived perennials, with simple, coarsely toothed leaves and often fragrant, funnel-shaped white or purple flowers followed by spiny seed-capsules
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture retentive, well-drained soil with full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in situ in spring or earlier under glass and planted out after the danger of frost

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants
Architectural

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to a virus

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