Warning

Seek medical assistance for all ingestions and eye exposures.

Description

An ornamental soft-wooded shrub 2–3m high, with long trumpet-shaped flowers.

The flowers are pendulous, trumpet-shaped, pale orange to peach coloured, white or pale violet, 15–20cm long opening out to about 10cm across. The flowers have a strong sweet fragrance, particularly at night.

The leaves are dull green and softly hairy, 10–30cm long, with wavy margins..

Toxicity

  • Extremely toxic

  • Irritant to skin or eyes

  • Respiratory irritant

Symptoms

All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms may include intense thirst, difficulty with speech and swallowing, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, dilated pupils, seizures and coma. Deaths have occurred. The perfume can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and light-headedness. Eye contact with the sap may cause dilated pupils and temporary blindness.

Images

A large angel’s trumpet shrub adorned with white flowers and lush green leaves.
Photo by Mary Louden

Details

Common name: Angel’s trumpet

Botanical nameBrugmansia spp.

Other common names: Tree datura

Family: Solanaceae

General description: An ornamental soft-wooded shrub 2–3m high, with long trumpet-shaped flowers.

Flowers: The flowers are pendulous, trumpet-shaped, pale orange to peach coloured, white or pale violet, 15–20cm long opening out to about 10cm across. The flowers have a strong sweet fragrance, particularly at night.

Leaves: The leaves are dull green and softly hairy, 10–30cm long, with wavy margins.

Fruit/Berries: The fruit are narrow cylindrical pods.

Other: The sap is clear.