Devil's trumpet (Datura metel)
Care, watering, light and tips for Devil's trumpet on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Solanaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 10–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Devil's trumpet
Datura metel, also known as 'Devil's Trumpet', is an ornamental annual or short-lived perennial plant, valued for its large, often double, fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers that open at dusk. Its blooms can be white, yellow, purple, or bicolored, creating an exotic display in tropical gardens or as a container plant in temperate climates. It's ideal for patios, balconies, or as a focal point in borders where its size and bloom will draw attention.
Native range
Tropical Asia (possibly India or Southeast Asia)
Care tips
It requires full sun for abundant flowering and well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Watering should be regular and generous, especially in warm climates and during flowering, avoiding waterlogging. A common mistake is insufficient fertilization, as it's a 'heavy feeder' plant that needs additional nutrients for its vigorous growth. The entire plant is highly toxic if ingested, so it must be handled with caution and kept away from children and pets.
How to save a dying Devil's trumpet
- Warning signs
- Yellow, wilting, or holed leaves. Stunted growth, few flowers. Soft or foul-smelling roots.
- First aid
- Repot to a larger pot with rich, well-draining soil. Moderate watering, gradual direct sun. Remove damaged leaves.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (root rot), lack of sun, poor or compacted soil. Does not tolerate extreme cold.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not completely rotted. Act fast, it's resilient with correct care.