I know I am new at this, but my question is this-- What is the difference between a Brugmansia and a Datura??? I Don't want to insult any plant or person and I know that the Datura is relative to the "Pigweed" The blooms on both these plants are beautiful , Please help. I believe I have a white Brug and it blooms very late, large white blooms. It comes up every year late in the Spring. One year I put some equine manure on it, it grew but had blooms even later in the year. Thanks for any help.
Don't shoot me!!
well flowerpositionwill tell you.. the datura has flowers that have the smaller end twards the ground..and the flowers sit upright...hince the devils trumpet name..as the end you'd blow thetrumpet is for some down below.. it isasmaller plant..usually under two ft tall..
the angels trumpet..brugmansia...has the flowers with the tip higher than the flower skirts.. and the flower hangs down.. the plant is usually a bit taller...3-8"tall.....
A photo would be very helpful since "pigweed" can refer to any of a number of plants.
Both Brugmansias and Daturas belong to the Solanaceae, the same family as the tomato. This is what Preissel and Preissel have to say about the differences between Brugmansias and Daturas.
Shoot: Brugs have woody shoots. Datura shoots are herb-like except toward the bottom of the plant
Size: Brugs are tree like or extra large shrubs and can get up to 25'+. Daturas top off at about 5'
Lifetime: Brugs are long-lived, up to several decades. Daturas are short lived, mostly annuals, but some perennials.
Length of juvenile period: Brugs have a relatively long seedling period, at least 2-1/2'. Some get over 7' tall before they reach their blooming phase. Daturas have a very short juvenile period and can form their first flowers after the cotyledons.
Formation and development of flowers: Individual varieties (cultivars) are affected by temperature. Daturas are affected by daylight length and strength.
Flower Positions: Nodding to totally pendulous. (There have been some upward facing Brugs developed since their book was first published.) Datura flowers are upright. (I don't know whether any nodding or pendulous Datura varieties have been developed)
Fruit: No spines on the berry fruit. Pericarp (outer skin of the seedpod) is fleshy and doesn't open during ripening. Datura have spiny capsule fruit. The chambers of the fruit open when ripening.
Calx: Base doesn't widen out while the fruit is ripening. Datura seedpod base grows as it ripens.
Seed: Seed have a corky coat. B. Not easily distinguishable in B. vulcanicola. and B. sanguinea. Seeds don't have a small appendage, called an elaiosome, that attracts ants who distribute the seed. Datura seed don't have a corky coat, but, with 3 exceptions, they do have noticeable elaiosomes.
I hope these descriptions will help you decide whether you have a Brug or a Datura. If you could post a photo of you plant and its blooms, it would be easier to help.
I hope this picture makes it thru. I do believe I have two Brugmansia. Here is picture of the smaller of the two. When it blooms, I've never seen it yet, it is to be Orange. I hope so I love orange. The other one is white and I am going to put a start in a pot to see if it will bloom earlier. I guess I won't know til I try. When I first put them from their Mom's and put them in the soil, they wilt, but after a week they snap back out of it. I Thank You all for your help. Love this group. Charleen
Will try to send a pictures. I have a terrible time sending them.
That definitely looks like a Brug to me. Ummm, I love your hydrangea! Is the soil naturally acidic?
Yes..Veronica..I concur.. it is a brugmansia... ..
Yes, the soil is naturally acidic. See my red, white and blue. The Hydragea has white turning to blue blooms and the Monarda is the prettiest dark red. I love the way it looks. Almost too much like jungle, but pretty. Thanks for the answer. When the Brug blooms I will try to get you all a picture. It is supposed to be Orange.