4 named cultivars

shrub

Angel's Trumpet

The Story

Plant Bio

Brugmansia x candida, angel's trumpet, is a soft-wooded evergreen shrub of hybrid Andean origin, reaching five to ten feet in a season. Large oval leaves up to eight inches long clothe upright stems, and enormous pendulous trumpet flowers over six inches long open in white, cream, apricot or pink, releasing a strong sweet scent after dark.

Every part of this plant is seriously poisonous. It contains scopolamine and atropine, ingestion causes delirium and hallucination, and deaths have been recorded — it is not a plant for a garden used by children, and prunings should never go where livestock can reach them. Grown with that understood, it is unmatched for evening scent on a warm patio.

Uses & Benefits:

Enormous pendulous trumpets over months, with a powerful sweet scent released after dark.

Fast enough to make a substantial specimen in a single season from a small plant.

Night-flying moths and hummingbirds visit the flowers; deer leave it entirely alone.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

108 inches

Width

48 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

8, 9, 10

Water

High

Humidity

Moderate to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Hybrid of Andean South American species

Toxicity

Highly toxic; can be fatal if eaten

Planting

How to Grow

Site it away from children, pets and grazing animals.
Plant in full sun in rich, freely draining soil.
Water and feed generously; it is a very hungry plant.
Grow it in a large pot to overwinter frost-free.
Prune to shape in spring, wearing gloves.
Bag prunings for disposal rather than composting them.

Pro Tip

It flowers on branches above the first Y-shaped fork, so never cut a plant back below that fork or it will not bloom.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Site it away from children and pets ⚠️
Feed and water it heavily in growth 💧
Wear gloves when pruning 🧤
Overwinter it frost-free in a pot 🏠

Don't

Let anyone eat or brew any part of it ❌
Prune below the first Y-shaped fork ❌
Put prunings where animals can reach them ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Feed
Overwinter

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evening-scented patio containerTropical-style summer borderConservatory or greenhouse specimen

Companion Plants

CannaElephant Ear Banana Coleus Salvia

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Angel's Trumpet questions

What zones can Angel's Trumpet grow in?

Angel's Trumpet is hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Angel's Trumpet deer resistant?

Yes — Angel's Trumpet is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Angel's Trumpet bloom?

Angel's Trumpet typically blooms in summer to fall through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Angel's Trumpet need full sun?

Angel's Trumpet does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.