This plant came up as a volunteer in my vegetable garden this Summer. When it sprouted, I thought it was "goatweed" but something didn't look right. Now it is blooming at night with the most pure white, large, trumpet shaped blooms. The blooms wilt shortly after sunrise the next morning. I have no idea what this is or where it came from. I would appreciate any info. Thanks.
It is Datura wrightii, Angel Trumpet a very lovely Texas native.
Daturas are toxic so always wash hands after touching it, especially before touching food.
I think someone on another website has correctly identified it as a "moonflower". Thanks.
There may be someone whose common name for this is "moonflower" but genus Datura is correct for that photo.
It is Datura wrightii and be careful they will spread by underground roots and seedlings. A nice plant but can be invasive. Seed pods are spiked and painful also.
C
Fileitonce ~ the moonflower is a common name for it. Your plant is a Datura. This link shows many of them and gives information. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/search.php?q=angels+trumpet+datura&Sear=Search+PlantFiles
I like these flowers. They are incredibly fragrant at night when the blooms are open. If you sit and watch, you can actually watch the blooms unfurl at dusk. If you watch them at dusk, you will probably see them visited by the hummingbird moths also.
These do not spread by roots but if the seed pods are not harvested, I would suspect the birds will pick the seeds and spread them. That is probably how yours arrived.
I have never found the prickly seed pods to be too wicked. Our common sticker grass is far more unpleasant.
I treat these as an annual and when I see your photos, I wish I had grown some this summer. Thanks for sharing the photos.
And welcome to Daves' Garden... glad to have you join us. Kristi
In good dirt with water one of these spread its roots over 6 feet away from the original plant. They can be invasive. I know this as I dug up the roots.
It even lists it as a potenially invasive plants in the plant profiles. Not saying its the worst but in some circumstances its pretty bad.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/48981/
This message was edited Jun 30, 2012 12:17 AM
NewtonsThirdLaw ~ I don't doubt that they could become invasive under proper conditions ( soil, fertilizer & water).
The links do show it to be either an annual or perennial.
Fileitonce is located about 75 miles south of me in depleted east TX soil. I'm afraid if these were incredibly invasive here, we would see them all over the place but we don't.
It seems many things that others consider invasive have no aggression in other soils or different levels of neglect. Amazing isn't it... Kristi
I love these plants ad usually let one or two grow wherever the come, if it is not a bad place, and pull the others.
They are annuals for me here in north central Texas, but I imagine the could be perennials in milder climates.
Here is my biggest one ever, it had 60 blooms that night.
Isn't that beautiful Josephine! That is why I love them. The first time I saw them, they were spanning the front of an equipment sales office and if I recall it was near Jacksonville. Made me ask what it was just like Fileitonce did. Later a friend brought me a seed pod. The blooms positively glow after dark. Very pretty.
Thank you Kristi, I usually can't give them that much space but this one was where spreading was not a problem.
It is sad that so many people don't know what they are, even though they are one of our most prevalent wildflowers.
Frostweed, that is gorgeous!!
Thank you Sweetmommy. I was really amazed at all the blooms.
Another limiting factor on invasiveness is stratification. Plants that are invasive in Dallas often are not here in Houston because it does not get cold enough to simulate winter. Therefore the seeds tho scattered, dont sprout. I dont know if Datura is like this but some of the desirable natives are for me.
Sometimes, to me, the so called "invasive" plant is a good thing. i.e.: easy to grow, repopulates quickly, drought tolerant (in Texas) & care free. If they're pretty, all the better! I take that term with a grain of salt. As long as they do not upset the balance...
Exactly, besides they are easy to pull when they are small, or you can pot them and give to your friends.
This message was edited Jul 3, 2012 8:14 AM
