Datura Plants

[Bluebell]

Has anyone tried growing Datura plants from seed? If so how did you get on? :D

[sue1002]

I 'tried' some last year, they were seeds that were sent to me from someone else's garden. They germinated about a month after they were sown and were potted on, I lost most of them though and by the time we went on holiday there were two small plants left, they hadn't grown on much and I left them in the greenhouse, needless to say the week we were away was the hottest during the summer and they were dead when we got back.

[Bluebell]

I've seen pictures of the plants and they look amazing, so I thought I'd get some seeds and give it a go. They're supposed to have a wonderful scent too!
While I was looking these plants up on the internet I came across one website (cant remember what it was) that said you shouldn't fall asleep underneath the plants or tether your donkey to them - I must remember not to do that!:D

[sue1002]

Yes, they do look good don't they? Is it the smaller Datura you are looking at or the larger shrub version Brugmansia? When we visited a nursery last year, they had a huge Brugmansia in there and my son is holding one of the flowers in his hand and says "mum, I like the look of this one" then there was me telling him off for touching it, he wasn't aware that all parts of the plant are highly toxic.

[Bluebell]

Hi Sue - it's the Datura seeds I have. What I really liked the look of were the Brugmansia Angels Trumpet in yellow, but they appear to grow really big so I thought I'd try with the Datura. Yes the fact they are toxic is the one worrying factor, but I don't have children so that's one less thing to worry about (and my cat is too old and lazy to even venture outside anymore!)
When I was about 3 or 4 years old my mum caught me eating what I thought were pea pods in the garden - from the pretty Laburnum tree... :eek:

[Miranda]

Good luck with the Datura, Bluebell.

I was also caught eating Laburnum seeds, also when I was about three or four. Fortunately they passed through undigested. It was the shape and the smoothness of them that attracted me.

[Bluebell]

I'll let you know how I get on with the seeds Miranda.
Unfortunately I was a very poorly girl for a while, apparently the doctor practically lived with us I was so sick. I don't know why he didn't just send me to hospital - then again this was about 35ish years ago! :D

[digger]

Well I did also eat some laburnum flowers when I was nipper, my horrible older brothers had told me that they were bananas!! what an evil wicked thing to do. I didn't get sick though.

[Bluebell]

That's older brothers for you Digger - when I was little my older brother told me not to go near the hatch to the attic when it's dark as the things that lived in there would get me - I've been scared of the dark ever since! :eek:

[digger]

Yes bluebell they are wicked , I have many a fear of things because of my evil brothers I am the youngest and so i was considered fair game by them, they used to chase me at the beach with crabs and say they were going to put them in my bed!! horrid people, I am the youngest by far and the next one to me is ten years older, I don't really bother with them too much these days.

[Bluebell]

Well, I actually have two little seedlings (out of a possible 10) that have finally decided to show themselves after 5 weeks! Maybe some more will come up soon... :D

[Bluebell]

Well, my two seedlings have grown but at completely different speeds. One is about five inches high and the other about 9. The largest one has about 6 buds on it and today one of the flowers showed itself! The flower is quite large considering the overall size of the plant and is lilac in colour. They are supposed to be highly secented but mine don't seem to have any scent. I am rather proud of myself though as for a while they didn't seem to be doing at all well. I moved them back into the greenhouse a couple of weeks ago and they seem to prefer that. :D