Brugmansia Sanguinea (broog-MAN-zee-ah san-GWIN-ee-a) is a perennial, semi-evergreen tropical shrub hailing from the South American Andes mountains.
You may hear this member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) plant family commonly referred to as:
- Red Angel’s Trumpet
- Scarlet Angel’s Trumpet
- Mountain Angel’s Trumpet
Other less commonly used names include:
- Datura sanguinea
- Brugmansia rosei
- Datura rosei
Brugmansia Sanguinea Care
Size and Growth
Angel’s Trumpet is a flowering shrub or tree that may grow to be 30′ feet high when planted in a landscape in a tropical setting.
When kept as a potted or container plant, they typically top out at about 5′ feet tall; however, in some situations, the plant may reach a lofty 15′ feet.
Planted in the landscape in an area that experiences mild but cool winters, expect 8′ to 12′ feet in height with a spread of 6′ to 8′ feet.
In conducive environments, this plant displays attractive, bright green leaves year-round.
Flowering and Fragrance
Several species of this Brugmansia are available with varying shades of impressive blooms; however, Scarlet Angel’s Trumpet is well-known for extremely impressive, large, pendulous flowers which dazzle with intense shades of green, yellow, and red – all in one bloom!
The base of each long, narrow, trumpet-shaped blossom is bright green. The sides of the trumpet are bright golden yellow. The flower’s mouth is deep red with striking bright yellow veins.
However, one cultivar is Brugmansia x candida ‘Shredded White,’ which has double white flowers and twisted and divided petals, making this plant completely different from Scarlet Angel’s Trumpet.
While some varieties of Brugmansia bloom in the springtime, Mountain Angel’s Trumpet blooms in late spring. However, some varieties are late bloomers, often appearing in the summer and into the late autumn/early winter months.
Unlike other species of Brugmansia plants with fragrant blooms, the blooms of this plant are unscented but are, nonetheless, attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Unlike some species of Brugmansia, Scarlet Angel blooms well in cooler temperatures and may display as many as forty trumpet flowers at a time.
Light and Temperature
Red Angel’s Trumpet likes bright, full sun; however, protecting the plant against the extremely harsh afternoon sun is a good idea.
A location that receives full morning sun and light/dappled afternoon shade are perfect. It needs about 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive and produce the best blooms.
This is a robust variety of tropical plants that thrives at slightly lower temperatures than some of the more delicate types. The plants are fully winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11.
It can do quite well in areas that experience occasional, brief freezes. Generally speaking, its best temperature is 71° degrees Fahrenheit. Hotter temperatures may negatively impact bloom production.
In locations with colder temperatures, grow your Brugmansia in a container and keep it in a sheltered location through the winter.
A greenhouse or sunroom setting that receives a minimum of six hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily and maintains consistently warm temperatures (never lower than 45° to 50° degrees Fahrenheit) is best.
Watering and Feeding
Water regularly and keep the soil moist throughout the plants’ growing season, especially throughout warmer months.
When rainfall is scarce, always check the soil moisture level, setting and increasing the watering frequency based on the moisture. Then, reduce watering during the winter months as growth slows dramatically.
Fertilize the Brugmansia plant regularly with a high-quality, balanced, liquid fertilizer because they are heavy feeders. Do this during the growing season to promote new flowers and healthier growth.
Soil and Transplanting
These evergreen shrubs like soil that is moist, well-draining, and organically rich. However, they also grow well in various soil types, including sandy, loamy, and chalky soils. Brugmansia flowers are also not picky about pH levels.
In the landscape, place plants 3’ feet apart to allow plenty of room to grow. Amend the soil annually in the springtime with loam, aged manure, and other rich organic matter.
Apply a thick layer of organic mulch (e.g., wood chips) early in the springtime to help retain moisture in the soil.
Repot potted plants annually, in the springtime, using a high-quality, light, airy potting mix. When the roots have filled the pot, it’s a good indication that the Brugmansia plants need to be transplanted into a larger container.
Grooming and Maintenance
At the time of repotting, prune the plant using pruning shears to shape it and control a much more manageable size in mid or late spring. Regular pruning is also an excellent idea to keep the plants vigorous and healthy.
Pruning through the plant’s center also helps increase air circulation. However, be careful not to prune too aggressively in the spring because this can harm your plant.
Pinch back and trim your plant judiciously and deadhead spent flowers throughout the growing season.
Provide a thorough (and somewhat drastic) pruning before settling your plant for overwintering. Remove any dead or damaged limbs and trim the plant to create a compact shape that will not require a lot of energy during the winter rest period.
Use stem and tip cuttings for propagation if you wish.
Angel’s Trumpet Cuttings For Propagation
How To Propagate Brugmansia Sanguinea
Brugmansia is rather rare. Some species can only be found at specialty nurseries, so if you have a parent plant from which you can collect cuttings, propagating your own young plants is a very good idea. These robust plants grow easily from light, airy soil or water cuttings.
And the best method to propagate these plants is through stem cuttings because the plant will mature quicker than from Brugmansia seed.
To propagate through stem cuttings, do the following:
- Cut about 10″ inches of a stem of semi-ripe wood from the tip of the selected cutting.
- Then, make a 1/4″ inch cut below a set of leaves and strip off the bottom set of leaves just above the cut. This is to expose the leaf nodes.
- Next is to apply a rooting hormone to the end of the cut and bury the cutting in moistened potting soil.
- Place the pot in a shady spot and cover it with plastic.
- Don’t forget to water the pot with bottom-set drainage holes in a water tray.
After a few weeks, The cutting will develop a strong root structure after a few weeks and can be transplanted into the garden or a larger pot.
Brugmansia Cuttings Have Roots After 13 Days
Brugmansia Sanguinea Main Pest Or Diseases
When well cared for, these enthusiastic plants are virtually trouble-free. Bright sunlight, consistent warmth, rich, well-draining soil, and the right amount of water and fertilizer will produce healthy plants that deflect most pests and diseases.
Plants that are suffering a lack or excess of any of these necessities may be subject to infestation by common plant pests, such as:
- Thrips
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
- Mealy Bugs
- Cabbage worms
- Slugs and Snails
All these common garden pests can be easily controlled with neem oil, insecticidal soap or Diatomaceous earth. You must apply the treatment regularly directly to the plant’s underside of the leaves to be effective and keep pest infestation under control.
Another effective way to get rid of them is to spray plant oils, or set up sticky traps.
Excessive watering will also lead to root rot, which can usher in various fungal diseases, so be careful not to waterlog the plant.
Other common diseases include fusarium and verticillium wilt. Make sure to destroy the entire plant and discard diseased plants. Also, don’t forget to clean your tools properly to stop spreading the disease.
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
As a member of the nightshade family, Brugmansia has a high level of toxicity. All parts of Angel Trumpets are toxic and can cause skin irritation on contact and gastric distress when ingested.
Keep Brugmansia Sanguinea out of the reach of kids, pets, and livestock. Plant it off the beaten path so that people will not likely brush against it. Wear gloves when handling and pruning the plant, and wash up immediately afterward.
Is the plant considered invasive?
Angel’s Trumpet plant grows wild from the northern part of Columbia to the northern part of Chile. It is an enthusiastic grower, and it propagates easily from cuttings.
Although this particular type of Brugmansia does not appear to be listed as invasive, some other Brugmansia species are, especially in Central America. It stands to reason that it could easily adapt and run rampant in a semi-tropical or tropical setting.
If you live in an area with a long warm growing season and mild winters, keep an eye on it. Don’t allow it to escape your garden.
Suggested Brugmansia Sanguinea Uses
In its native South America, Angel’s Trumpets have many religious and folk medicine uses. South American shamans have used this plant for centuries for healing techniques and various rituals.
Moreover, because of their lovely showy flower colors, a row of these dazzling plants in the garden can make a nice backdrop for your pollinator garden, cutting garden, or any arrangement of low-growing ornamental garden plants.
Brugmansia makes nice container plants as a patio plant in areas that experience cold winters. This plant can be treated as a dormant plant or a house plant in winter. They are also good specimen plants in Mediterranean and tropical gardens.