The most striking feature of a datura (Datura spp.) is its flowers. The 4- to 6-inch white flowers bloom all summer, and some varieties are fragrant. The plant usually grows about 3 feet tall but can reach a height of 5 feet. Datura, also called angel's trumpet, makes a striking container plant and is used in borders and as a specimen plant. All parts of an angel’s trumpet plant, including the seeds, are highly toxic if eaten.
Datura seeds are sown indoors in individual pots two to three months before planting them outdoors. Any type of potting soil or seed starting medium will do, but using a soilless mix will help prevent fungal diseases such as damping off. Keeping the air around the seeds very moist until they germinate will result in higher germination rates. Placing the pots in a tray with a clear plastic cover or in a clear plastic bag and then closing it tightly will increase humidity. Open the bag or remove the cover as soon as the seedlings germinate. The seeds germinate fastest at temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Datura germination is erratic and can take anywhere from one to six weeks.
After the seedlings germinate, they can relocate to a sunny south- or west-facing window. The soil is kept moist at all times, but not allowed to get soggy. Once the seedlings have three true leaves, they are fed every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer. Pinching out the growth tips isn't necessary.
The seedlings are ready to transplant outdoors after spending six to eight weeks in a sunny window indoors. Outdoor temperatures should be above 45 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Preparing the seedlings for outdoor life is begun two weeks before transplanting them. Exposure to gradually increasing lengths of time outdoors, called hardening off, significantly improves the seedlings’ chances of survival. They are then transplanted into well-drained soil in a sunny location, spaced 3 feet apart.
Collecting seeds from your own plants is an inexpensive way to obtain new plants. One drawback to collecting your own seeds is that hybrids and cultivars often don’t breed true. If you’ve never met a datura you didn’t like, or if you have plenty of room in the garden to experiment, you can have fun growing seeds from the plants in your garden. The seed capsules mature in fall. Let them dry out on a screen or a few sheets of newspaper, and then break open the capsules and remove the seeds.
Your Planting Articles
- The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Flowers from Seed to Bloom; Eileen Powell
- The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds; Robert Gough et al.
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