Recent Activity - Plant Opinions

evergreen in mediteraneum/ temperate climates. proved very hardy towards drought.

smells citrusy, plant near brick wall to catch scent on hot days. mossie repellent- best if crushed leaves rubbed on skin

Very tolerant of hot dry conditions and as said, poor soil. Good companion plant under fruti trees. repels aphids, ants, cucmber beetles, squash bugs, white flies, borers near fruit. Can eat leaves as well, peppery taste, good with eggs

related to mint, keep containerised. About 20- 30% cats don't respond- genetic basis. Also the nepatlactone constituent is used as a v effective mossie repellent. Got it planted near doors to help deter mosquitos.

planted in between vegies to attract bees. robs hungry veg of no nutrients but looks very pretty and shades soil to keep roots of vegies cool

Only seen just before Chinese New Year here in Malaysia. The corm of the plant is made into chips and eaten as a snack by the Chinese and sometimes it is stir fried with pork and eaten with rice. The corm is also planted as an ornamental plant for decoration.

Brugmansias, or 'Angle's trumpets.' were once considered 'Datura.' Now datura is looked upon as commonly called 'Devil's trumpets,' and have their own classification.
Origin of Brugmansia is western South America, in small breaks or clearings between the huge giants that make up the rainforests. For this reason, they receive direct sunlight, but also dappled/bright lighting for some of the day. They are fast growers, and will bloom from seed usually in the first year, and within 18 months from cuttings.
Brugmansias thrive in heat, but certain species will 'wilt' at the hottest part of the day. For this reason, you may end up watering the plant twice daily during your hottest summer months. Brugs like their feet constantly moist, but not soggy.
They are also ravenous feeders and enjoy rich, loamy soil with sand cut in for good drainage. I have never been able to over fertilize a brugmansia. Tomato fertilizer works well, and use it at least once a week with proportion listed on box during it's growing times. (This depends on your climate) In zones 9B and above, this is March through December. If you can get their soil, water and fertilizer needs met, they will bloom many times a year for you.
Most blooms have a very intoxicating, heady fragrance that becomes more intense as the hours become later. In nature, they are pollinated by large Sphinx moths and certain species of hummingbirds.
Bloom color also depends on the temperature. The colors are usually a plae wispy green and white as the long tubular flower first begins to open, and the colors change and intensify as the flower ripens and the temperatures warm at different parts of the day. After fully 'ripe,' the flowers pale slightly from green and white, to peach and white, and finally to a creamy-white with deep pink throat. Summer flowers may have a different finished color than spring flowers. Notice the two photos I took. Same flowers, colors change as flower begins to open.
Since brugmansia is in the solanaceae family, it is visited by butterflies that like this family for hosts to their young. Horn worms
can be found eating at their tender parts during late summer months. If you have taken good care of the plant, you should sacrifice this small part to the caterpillar, and not kill it. They are the next generation pollinators.

Add an inch or so of well rotted compost each spring to the drip-line, first stirring top soil layer gently with a metal rake. This better infuses the nutrients.
Brugmansia do well in containers if you live in colder regions, or can be dug up and moved inside during colder months. Because they do not grow too large, many gardeners will leave them in large planters and just haul them back in when cold weather threatens.
Brugmansia are propagated easily from seed or root cuttings, but only come true from parent-cloned cuttings.
Brugs are highly toxic!
These include atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. Keep children and pets away from all parts of the plant.
With some luck and good gardening care, I think you'll fall in love with this beautiful plant as much as I have.
I will post more about propagation of Brugmansia on my 'opinion' of 'Brugmansia 'Frosty Pink.'
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked) Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Subfamily: Solanoideae
Tribe: Datureae
Genus: Brugmansia

Justicia brandegeeana is a somewhat leggy, but lovely hedge or shrub with unusual flowers resembling shrimps. The long flowers appear throughout the year. Keep it trimmed for a more robust shape. In the south, the plant prefers some dappled shade in the heat of the day, but in more northern zones, it can tolerate more direct sun exposure. Fertilize once a month in spring and summer, using a half weakened tomato fertilizer like Miracle Gro. The roots enjoy loam with sand cut in for good draining. Living in Zone 9A, I begin taking cuttings for propagation around late December. They don't wilt or die as quickly when done as temperatures moderate. Keep cuttings in shade until established, and use a 3/4 perlite to 1/4 unmilled sphagnum moss medium. Place 4 to 6 cuttings per planter. Sit rooting planter in pan full of water. Dip cuttings in rooting hormone powder first. Although my adult plants can withstand 25 degree temperatures, protect the cuttings from frosts their first year.
A beautiful landscape hedge, I prefer using it against a northern or eastern wall. If you live up north, give more sunlight and mulch in winter if temps drop into low 20's. Anything under that, bring indoors to save. Roots readily from division. Although they claim the plant attracts insects, I have yet to see even one near it. Florida only has two hummingbird species, so I cannot attribute to it's attractiveness to them. Perhaps up north they will lure in these lovely flying jewels.
Also, keep the soil moist to just dry at surface in hot weather. Water less frequently in late fall and winter. Amend soil in spring with compost. Give a good fertilizer boost in March (along with some compost tea) to get the blooms going again.
If you do things right, this lovely plant will bloom for you through most of the spring, summer and into fall.