Re: Brugmansia (and Datura?)

In a message dated 6/23/99 2:46:51 PM EST, sean.ohara@poboxes.com writes:

<< I think you'd have less success with a rigorous training, unless it was
 with a new shoot each year.  A multi-stemmed plant will naturally be
 fuller at the top and somewhat tree-like, even though with more than a
 single trunk.  I also have found that in the case of a hard freeze,
 this type of plant in a pot is much more likely to be killed as the
 roots will tend to freeze badly being exposed to the cold on all sides.
 Those in the ground, and under a heavy mulch, tend to get through a
 cold period more easily.  But you can always move a pot into some
 protection during the winter (high maintenance for a big pot and somewhat 
 risky if you don't manage to do it in time, as would likely be the case
 with 'yours truly'!).
  >>

I'm willing to give a little extra effort to have a standard in pot.  As I 
wrote to Dave Poole, there's a photo of exactly the effect I hope to achieve 
at:
http://home.att.net/~perennials/pics7.html
Hopefully, the cuttings I took will grow, and I can put a couple of them in 
the ground as "emergency back-ups" in case of a failure of the potted 
standard.

<<There are various species of Datura, annuals or short-lived perennials,
which have upturned trumpets similarly fragrant and beautiful (depending
upon the species or form).  There are also double forms of these, some
deeply suffused purple or yellow.  This group (of which Brugmansia was
once considered are part of by botanists) grows easily in the hot interior
of California (where you live) and some are even considered weeds in
farmlands (poisonous to livestock). >>

I've never seen these offered for sale in nurseries, although my sister just 
informed me that she'd seen one for sale at Home Depot in Folsom, so I guess 
they are around.  I have seen lists of horticultural varieties on the 
Internet, but around here I've only seen the "wild" weedy form, and it wasn't 
planted on purpose.  I wouldn't mind trying one of the more attractive 
cultivars.  Have you ever tried one?

<<As mentioned, all of these plants have some hallucinogenic properties and
are sometimes illegal to cultivate for that reason.  Can be fatally toxic.>>

I've run into all sorts of websites with recipes for "tea" and what-have-you. 
 I'm not too eager to try any of them.  Thanks again, Sean.

Kurt
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