Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii)

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One of my favorite plants in the desert, Datura wrightii is found along the roadside and often where the soil has been broken. It is a sprawling plant that gets up to 3 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. Plants in the wild are smaller and more compact, with the shape of a rounded mound.

Leaves are blue green, large, somewhat fleshy and profuse, with an unusual but distinct smell.  Though they may not have visible hairs, the leaves feel a little furry to the touch. They are triangular in shape, though rounded at the base. The one pictured above is growing in the wild, literally along a highway in the desert. The variations in leaf and flower colors/sizes that you see on this page are due primarily to different growing/lighting/moisture conditions, but the flower is unmistakable.

It flowers are spectacular white trumpets, often with purple tinges on the tips and a mild, sweet fragrance, best in the early morning and evening.  They offer beautiful shapes, even before completely open. In the page banner at the top, the flower that is second from the right is an unopened Datura wrightii.  These flowers are not useful for cutting, but the contrast of the dark leaves and white trumpet flowers make a striking display and add fragrance to the garden.

Together with the Brugmansias, these plants are commonly called Angels Trumpets.

DSC_8430-small Seed pods of Datura wrightii are round capsules and an inch or inch and 1/2 in diameter, covered with spikes that become sharp and slightly ferocious as the seedpod dries. Its seed pods open when dry to disperse the contents.  It sprouts readily from fresh seed (or dried, this season) and grows vigorously with or without water.  It is a beautiful, sprawling plant when grown in the garden.DSC_8428-smallDaturaWrightii_0572-small

Toxicity

All parts of tbis plant are highly poisonous, as are all related Datura, even those now labeled as Brugmansia. The plant contains dangerous levels of anticholinergic tropane alkaloids and may be fatal if ingested by humans, livestock, or pets. ¹  The toxic components can induce hallucinations, but more often blindness, lethargy, sweating, and dry mouth. It was used by southwest Indians for ceremonial purposes, but dangerously.  It is related to, but not the same as, Dantura stramonium (Jimson weed).  Concentrations of the active chemicals vary widely in different parts of the plant, which can result in overdoses and death.

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Datura wrightii Pests

Datura wrightii is a favorite of brown Hornworm moths, which lay eggs on the underside of the leaves. The emergent Tomato Hornworm caterpillars eat voraciously during this next part of their lifecycle, devouring your Daturas (both leaves and flowers), as well as your Brugmansias, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants.

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The moths and caterpillars are certainly found in the desert, as well as many other areas, and have good camouflage, making them difficult to spot on your plants.  Their markings are ornate, with white, v-shaped makings ending in dark spots on their backs, with a pointed “horn” at one end.They are large, at 3-4 inches long.  If they weren’t so destructive, they would be seen as a pretty caterpillar.

Investigate any holes you see on the leaves of your Datura. If you also see small black spots on the leaves, that is the waste of this voracious caterpillar. Find and remove them immediately if you prize your beautiful plant and others in your garden.

¹  Datura wrightii, Wikipedia. 8/23/16.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_wrightii

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