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Ask The Expert: What Is This Mystery Trumpet Flower?

Ask the Plant Expert:

“I have moonflowers I grew last growing season (I am located in Wyoming) in a pot. I harvested the seeds and planted in several pots this year. What I noticed growing in the middle of our grass, by my children’s trampoline, is something that looks like a hybrid moonflower. The flowers are similar (just smaller). They are just as fragrant, and they are developing seed pods (just like the ‘regular’ moonflower plant). However, it look much different. The leaves are shaper (not rounded like the other plants). Do you think this moonflower somehow bred with a seed to a weed?

datura-mystery-plant datura-mystery-plant2

I am attaching two pictures of the plant in question. It shows the leaves, blooms and seed pods. Any help would be appreciated! I don’t know if I should harvest these seed pods, or destroy them! The plant smells pretty, so I hate to do that, but I also don’t want some weird, unknown thing growing around my yard! Thank you so much!” – Angela

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
I believe what you have there is a relative of your moonflower. Your moonflower is a type of Datura and this new mystery shrub is in the same family. I believe it to be Datura stramonium or Datura leichhardtii. I would think this is more likely to be a random weed than a hybrid of your moonflower and a rogue weed, but I guess stranger things have happened.

Although the flowers are beautiful, all Datura plants contain tropane alkaloids which are toxic, so you might want to keep this in mind when deciding whether it stays or has to go! Hope this helps!

What Is The Purple Flowering Plant

Ask the Expert: Unknown flowering plant

Datura Stramonium

Datura Stramonium

Can someone please identify this flowering plant. Giovanni

Plant Expert Reply:

The plant you have is a Datura stramonium. It is sometimes referred to as a thornapple, Devil’s Apple. Jamestown-weed. Jimson-weed. Stinkweed. Devil’s Trumpet. Apple of Peru.  A native of tropical America, it can be found throughout the world, except the colder or Arctic regions.  In North America, it blooms May Through October.  I assume in Bermuda (where you live),  the flowering season is extended.

This beautiful flower is considered a weed in many areas because of the rank odor it produces.  The smell is not the only undesirable quality of this plant. Although this plant has been used as a medicinal herb ( as an antispasmodic, anodyne and narcotic), the alkaloids produces in this plant can be highly toxic.

All parts of the plant are poisonious. Wash hands after handling the plant and do not rub eyes, nose or mouth until hand have been washed.  Don’t let children or pets ingest this plant.

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Unknown Plant – Friendly Visitor or Deadly Foe?

Ask the Expert: Now growing in my backyard

About 2ft tallPossible Jimson Weed

James,

I believe you have a Datura stramonium also known as Angel’s trumpet, Jimson weed, Thorn apple. Datuar stramonium seems to be native in all of the continental US states expect Wyoming. The large trupet shaped flowers are pretty and later it will develop a spiny fruit. Certain Native American tribe used this plant as an herb. However, all parts of this plant are toxic and should not be ingested.