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Native Plant Society of Texas

Angel Trumpet

Datura wrightii

Other common name(s):

Datura, Jimsonweed

Family:

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland
Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain
Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks
Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

3
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Nectar Insects, Moths

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Works well in a perennial garden, bog, or pond area. May be pruned to shape. Native habitat: floodplains throughout Texas. WARNING: all parts of this plant are highly toxic. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms May-November. Short-live perennial in the south or annual in the north. A spreading, branching form. Leaves are grayish-green with toothed lobes. Large, trumpet-shaped, night-blooming flowers last until mid-day. The fruit is a prickly round capsule. Larval host: Carolina Sphinx Moth.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Datura inoxia ssp. quinquecuspida, Datura metel var. quinquecuspida

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Bud Scarification Before planting, nick them with a file or pocketknife and plant them 5 to a one-gallon pot filled with a sandy soil media in spring (after frost danger is past or with frost protection). If more than one seed germinates, thin out all but one seedling. Allow it to grow until the roots have spread throughout the pot and transplant into a well-drained location during the growing season. Water it intermittently until established during the first year. The following year it should be able to make it on native rainfall. You may spur its growth with supplemental irrigation, but its form and flowering may be adversely affected by excess irrigation. Collect seeds from dried pods in the fall. Seedpods are globe-shaped and very spiny. These split open when ripe to release several, semicircular, flattened, yellow-brown seeds. Use caution if attempting to propagate this plant from seeds because the toxin is concentrated in the seeds. Use caution in handling or storing seeds for fruits, and especially keep away from children or pets. For propagating by seed: 1) https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/barnesm/SacredDatura.pdf 2) https://calscape.org/Datura-wrightii-(Sacred-Datura)
Stem Cutting Ensure the cuttings have at least one node and place them in a well-draining soil mix. Cuttings can be taken during the growing season. https://earthone.io/plant/datura%20wrightii?srsltid=AfmBOorO3RwoTHokzrMwwSTP86bI1b2JxD2UssjxjgfR8jtG59hSKuaP

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason