With many common names such as angel's trumpet, devil's weed, moonflower and thorn apple, Datura is a plant with many facets. Most notably, it is both beautiful and poisonous. Its most often used common name, jimsonweed, is derived from its unique historic usage.
The Infamous Jamestown Weed
Upon arriving in the states, colonists were attracted to a beautiful, night blooming plant abundant in the Virginia colony. Hoping the plant would be a good source of food to add to their dwindling supplies, attempts were made to add the plant's leaves and seeds to their diet. The deaths that followed proved the weed a force to be reckoned with and not one of the friendlier plants of the new world. Years later, the plant was used to stupefy British soldiers as they attempted to attack the colony. Over time, Jamestown weed became jimsonweed as it is most commonly called today.
Beautiful to Behold; Deadly to Ingest
Despite the datura's intoxicating scent and beauty, it belongs to the nightshade family and carries with it a deadly power. All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine that can cause hallucinations and central nervous system disruptions from flushing and sweating to rapid heartbeat and coma. Symptoms from consuming or smoking the plant can develop within a half hour and may last up to two days.
Historically, Datura has been used by AmerIndians in North and South America for shamanic rituals. Its ability to induce visions is well known and some believe that the infamous Mothman of Southwestern folklore may have been created out of datura induced hallucinations. In more recent medical history the isolated alkaloid scopolamine has been used to ease childbirth and is an ingredient in a commonly used motion sickness patch. Atropine is commonly used to treat heart conditions and hyoscyamine is often prescribed for gastrointestinal disorders.
Medical records and anecdotal information provides numerous reports of individuals, particularly teenagers looking for a cheap, quick high, steeping the leaves of Datura to make a tea. This method of ingesting Datura is particularly risky since the amount of alkaloids released cannot be regulated in any way. The tea often produces a quick onset of symptoms including rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing and hallucinations and can escalate to a heart attack or comatose state. Immediate medical attention can help limit or reverse some of the symptoms provided the source of the symptoms is revealed to the medical practitioner at the time of care.
Growing Datura
Datura is a beautiful plant for the garden. Its sturdy, sprawling nature makes it a great temporary hedge particularly near a patio where the scented white or purple flowers can be enjoyed as they open in the evening. The white flowers unfurl slowly and resemble the moon, causing some to call the plant "moonflower." Care should be taken not to use the plant where children or animals might injest it.
Most varieties with larger flowers are native of more tropical regions but Datura stramonium is native to most of the United States and will re-seed vigorously if allowed. Tropical varieities like D. metel and D. wrightii prefer a hot, humid growing season. Soil requirements are minimal but to produce the most abundant bloom some compost should be worked into the soil at the time of seeding.
Seeds can be purchased from just about any seed vendor. When harvesting seeds directly from the plant, use care as the pods are covered in spines, hence the common name, "thorn apple."
Datura is sometimes confused with Brugmansia which is also known commonly as "angel's trumpet." Although the two are related, Brugmansia is strictly a tropical plant and is not native to the United States. Brugmansia blooms droop down while Datura blooms face upwards.
Datura is also a nice plant to have in the garden to attract beneficial nocturnal pollinators. It is often visited by hummingbird moths and luna moths which are a sight to behold against the shining white flowers. Datura flowers generally only last one night and will begin drooping in the early morning. To limit the amount of seeds the plant develops, deadhead the plant regularly. Datura also responds well to pruning, particularly where it is grown as an annual.
Jessica Ferguson - Jess-of-all-trades! You name it, I'm probably interested in it. 15+ years experience as a gardener and naturalist and all that comes ...
