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Angel's Trumpet
We never pass a chance to explore any plant sales that we discover when out-and-about. Around 20 years ago, we stumbled upon a sweet sale in Sacramento to support people suffering from AIDS. The event included somewhat small and nondescript cuttings for sale. Next to each pot with cuttings were photos on what the flowers of the plant would like once in bloom, and one caught my eye.
There were several containers with pictures of beautiful trumpet-like flowers that had pink and white colors. The cuttings were just small sticks and this was the first I ever heard of the plant, but we went ahead and purchased 2 pots. The name of the plant is Brugmansia suaveolens, also known as Angel's Trumpet.
I gave one of the plants to my Mom who had not heard about the plant either, but was also eager to see what developed from the cuttings. We potted the cuttings into larger containers and placed them among our other potted plants. Mom had her own special spot for the mystery plant.
We did this often with shared plants and it was always fun to compare growth over time… a Mom and Daughter thing we had that remains as a very special memory and a connection to gardening.
Unfortunately, my Angel's Trumpet did not fare well over time and was lost to frost. My Mom's, however, did quite well and matured nicely in its pot. Mom's trumpet did not grow large, but it was healthy for years and she really enjoyed the beautiful trumpet blooms.
After she passed away, I inherited her plants and gave them a lot of TLC. The potted Brugmansia was beginning to fade out as the years passed. I did not want to lose the plant and memories it held, so I took some cuttings and started a new growth cycle.
We have a gazebo in one corner of our backyard where my Mom loved to hang out during visits. Every so often she would bring a trinket to add to this peaceful corner in our garden. So, I decided to plant the new cuttings in front of the gazebo. And, to my delight, theBrugmansia cuttings took hold and produced a plant that now thrives with many blossoms throughout the season!
Brugmansia is a stunning evergreen plant that can get up to 20 feet tall and produces very large “upside down” flowers that typically bloom from late spring until frost. It is native to South America, but does quite well in Solano and Yolo counties. I discovered that they do very well after pruning, so I usually keep mine at a manageable size of around 6 feet tall, as seen in the attached photos.
I have found Brugmansias at various local nurseries if you are interested in growing your own.
Beware, I later discovered that the Angel's Trumpet does have a woeful element to its chemistry. The plant also has a shadier name because all parts of the plant can be toxic if ingested by people or pets, thus also called the Devil's Trumpet. So, please pick up trimmings and dropped foliage to advert any exposure risks.
I promise, the blooms will bring a joy of color.
