About

Brugmansia suaveolens is a soft-stemmed shrub that retains its foliage for part of the year. In the summer and autumn, it produces substantial, downward-facing, white flowers resembling trumpets. The blossoms emit a fragrance at night.

About the genus

Brugmansia consists of sizable evergreen shrubs characterized by simple, ovate foliage. They produce large, solitary flowers that are either trumpet-shaped or tubular and frequently emit a notable fragrance.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Loam
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
West-facing, South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H1C

Plant details

Plant type
Shrubs, Conservatory Greenhouse
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Height
1.5-2.5 metres
Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical, Mediterranean climate plants
Native to
Brazil
Fragrance
Flower
Toxicity
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

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow outdoors in full sun after danger of frost is passed. Grow under glass in full light over winter with a minimum of 7-10°C. Use a peat-free, loam-based potting compost. Feed monthly with a balanced feed. May be trained as a standard. See brugmansia cultivation
Pruning
Pruning group 9. May be hard-pruned when brought indoors in autumn
Propagation
Propagate by seed or semi-ripe or softwood cuttings
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, thrips and mealybugs under glass
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free