How to Grow Angel Trumpet Flower, a Beautiful—but Toxic—Plant

Brugmansia is a stunning perennial with vivacious blooms that inspired its common name—angel trumpet—and a summery floral fragrance. With cultivars in a myriad of warm, citrusy colors, the angel trumpet instantly adds a tropical feel to any garden or patio space. And while this plant thrives in warm climates, it can overwinter indoors in a greenhouse or dormant in a pot, making it possible for cold-weather dwellers to add a tropical element to their summer landscaping.

Thinking about adding these flowers to your own garden? We spoke to garden experts for the best tips for growing and caring for them, along with some important precautions.

Safety Tips for Growing Angel Trumpet

The striking look and notable fragrance of angel trumpet make it a popular addition to ornamental gardens. "Brugmansia is a desired aesthetic in the garden because it's very dramatic," says Monica Yates, the head green goods coordinator at Sloat Gardens. "They do have a scent that is most noticeable in the evening, and [they are] statements. I think that that in itself is often why people look for them."

The showy and vibrant flowers hide a dangerous side effect, though. Angel trumpet is a member of the nightshade family and contains tropane alkaloids, which are poisonous. "It's considered one of the most toxic ornamental shrubs," says Yates. In angel trumpet, the seeds and flowers are the most hazardous; though the plant is primarily dangerous when consumed, some gardeners experience a mild reaction after working with it.

"I would always recommend washing your hands because if you have any of the oils on your hands and you put it in your eyes, you may have an adverse reaction to it," says Yates. (Also, avoid composting any seeds or parts of the plant for good measure.)

Types of Angel Trumpet

The dramatic, foot-long flowers of angel trumpet come in varying hues, depending on the cultivar you choose, including white, yellow, pink, orange, red, peach, and cream; the flowers can also be single- or double-bloomed, says Ginny Rosenkranz, master gardener coordinator at the University of Maryland Extension. They bloom from mid-summer through fall and give off a powerful scent after dark to lure moths that pollinate them.

"The fragrances of the cultivars are mostly citrusy, but vary between cultivars to include musk, lily, jasmine, gardenia, and more, while the species, Brugmansia suaveolens, has no fragrance," Rosenkranz says. Two of her favorite varieties are the rosy Pink Perfume and the aromatic, sunny-colored Charles Grimaldi. Here are some other types you might find:

• B. arborea 
• Brugmansia Cypress Gardens
• Brugmansia Ecuador Pink
• Brugmansia Inca Sun
• Brugmansia Jamaican Yellow
• Brugmansia sanguinea
• Brugmansia versicolor 
• Brugmansia x candida Shredded White
• Brugmansia x insignis Pink

How to Plant Angel Trumpet

You'll most likely find Brugmansia at the nursery in a five-gallon can, according to Yates, who suggests opting for an established plant as opposed to starting from seed. If you don't know what you're looking for, you may walk right past it: Rather than the flowing umbrella of flowers you'd typically see in a garden, an angel trumpet plant is just a singular trunk when first starting out. "They usually are one trunk until they branch generally about three to four feet," Yates says.

To transplant a young angel trumpet into your garden, Yates recommends digging a hole larger than the root system, which allows the plant room to spread during its first few years. Use amended soil to provide extra support. "Often, [amended soil] has organic matter like manure, compost that's been broken down," she says. "It adds value nutritionally, instead of just putting [the plant] straight into hard soil that may not have any value."

How to Grow Angel Trumpet in Containers

In zones 7 and north, angel trumpet can grow in containers, continuing to bloom during the winter when brought inside. Choose a large container, says Rosenkranz, and place your plant in a sunny room or greenhouse to benefit from blooms all year.

In the spring, allow the plants to adjust slowly to their outdoor transition. "All plants grown indoors during the winter will need an introduction into the outside world," says Rosenkranz. "Bring them out in the warm mornings for several days and take them back inside before noon when the sun is more intense. This will allow the plants to get used to the heat and intensity of the sun and the vagaries of the wind."

Caring for Angel Trumpet

Since angel trumpet is a broadleaf, evergreen plant native to South America, it thrives in tropical climates, says Rosenkranz. If you choose to grow it in colder regions, as noted above, prepare to bring the plant indoors during the winter.

Temperature

The warm climate of zones 8 to 10 mean angel trumpet can grow outside year-round, reaching heights of up to 20 feet. "If grown in containers in the colder climates and brought inside a greenhouse, the plants will usually grow only 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide," says Rosenkranz.  

Light

While angel trumpet grows best in full sun, gardeners in hot climates will want to protect the plant during the brightest part of the day. "It likes sun, but if you live in a really, really hot place with a lot of direct sun, it's better to give it some shade, like morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled sun," says Hallie Schmidt, owner of Tierra Madre Fine Gardens.

Soil

For best growth, Rosenkranz recommends planting angel trumpet in "organically rich, moist, well-drained soils."

Water

In order to properly care for your angel trumpet, you'll want to water it regularly. "It does like a lot of water, but it doesn't like to stay wet, so [make sure it's in] well-draining soil," says Schmidt. Yates says that the angel trumpet flowers are a good indicator plant, so you won't be left guessing. "They will let you know when they are dry," she says. "They do wilt, but they are very drought-tolerant once they are established."

Fertilizer

Angel trumpet's 12-inch-long blooms are one of its most memorable features. "These beautiful plants bloom a lot, and will thrive with regular all-purpose fertilization that will keep the blooms and foliage at their best," says Rosenkranz.

How to Winterize Angel Trumpet

If you don't have a greenhouse to protect the plant during the winter, you can encourage it to go dormant in a cool space, says Rosenkranz. 

"This tropical plant could also be planted in the ground in late spring and dug up in early fall while the temperatures are still warm, then stored in a cool frost-free dimly lit area that is kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit to allow the plants to go dormant," she says. "The roots should be covered in damp papers to protect them during their hibernation until spring warms up the soils enough to replant angel trumpets back into the ground."

How to Prune Angel Trumpet

The angel trumpet flower is hardy and takes well to pruning, so don't be afraid to make drastic cuts. "Early spring is the best time to trim and shape the angel’s trumpet so that it can produce new foliage and beautiful flowers," says Rosenkranz. Pruning is useful for managing the plant's growth, but can also be used as an opportunity to control its shape. "If it gets too big or you don't like the way it's going, you can cut it really hard and it responds really well," Schmidt says. "You have a lot of control over its size and shape."

Use clean, sharp tools for the job, says Schmidt. If you're unsure where to start, begin by cutting branches that are crisscrossing to reduce congestion. "Sometimes plants get really, really dense and there's a lot of branches touching and crisscrossing," she says. "There's less air circulation, and that can make things more pest-prone."

How to Propagate Angel Trumpet

Propagate angel trumpet with cuttings taken in early spring by following these steps, says Rosenkranz:

1. Choose a stem "at least the diameter of a finger," says Rosenkranz, and cut a 6- to 8-inch-long section.
2. Leave an inch of small leaves at the top of the stem, but remove the rest.
3. Set the cutting into 2- to 3-inches of water; place the cutting in a sunny, warm spot. "They can also be placed so that the bottom third of the cuttings are placed in damp perlite after dipping them lightly in root hormone," says Rosenkranz. "If the humidity is low the cutting will need to be covered but if in a humid place like a greenhouse covering them is not necessary."
4. Change the water daily until the cuttings can be transplanted. "The cuttings can be potted up into 1-gallon containers after a month," says Rosenkranz. "Because these plants grow quickly, they will need to be transplanted outdoors or into larger containers after a few weeks."

Common Pests and Diseases

Angel trumpet can be bothered by common garden pests, including aphids, caterpillars, mealybugs, spider mites, and whiteflies, says Rosenkranz. Control them with weekly applications of horticulture oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap. "It is best to use horticulture oil one week and insecticidal soap the next to reduce the chances of pesticide resistance," says Rosenkranz.  

Keeping your plants pruned and tidy can also make them less enticing to bugs. "One thing I recommend is making sure plants are clean," Yates says. "Clean up underneath them so there's no debris. If the plant is dirty, it can cause stress."