Brugmansia suaveolens (Willd.) Sweet

Frost tender open shrub or tree with elliptic leaves to 20cm long, and single or double, tubular-bell-shaped, night-scented, white, sometimes yellow or pink flowers, to 30cm long, in summer and autumn. The double form is more commonly grown.  To 5m.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Recorded by Johnson’s Dictionary as introduced to Britain in 1733, but this plant was Brugmansia x candida. B. suaveolens was introduced into England from France in 1783, having in turn been introduced to France by Dombey from Chile [where it is not native] c.1780. Both were introduced as Datura arborea, hence the confusion. [BM sub t.4252/1846].

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.179/1843].  Brugmansia suaveolens was part of the consignment of plants imported by John Bidwill from Kew in November 1843 [AJCP] but was probably already growing at Camden. James Backhouse informs us that B. suaveolens was a common plant in the gardens of Sydney by 1834. ‘24th [December 1834]. The evening was illuminated by lightening; in the town, the air, after sunset, was perfumed by the blossoms of Brugmansia suaveolens, a large South American shrub, cultivated in almost every garden, and bearing pendulous, whitish, trumpet-shaped blossoms, seven inches in length.’ [Backhouse – Narrative p.234/1843].

Notes

See also Brugmansia arborea (L.) Sweet.

My thanks to Alistair Hay for information on this and other Brugmansias. For further information see Hay, A., M. Gottschalk & A. Holguin (2011, in press). Huanduj — The Genus Brugmansia. Florilegium Books, Sydney.

Published Feb 27, 2010 - 02:35 PM | Last updated Jun 14, 2011 - 04:27 PM


More details about Brugmansia suaveolens (Willd.) Sweet
Family Solanaceae
Category
Region of origin

South America

Synonyms
  • Datura suaveolens Willd.
  • Datura arborea Mart.
  • Datura gardneri Hook. 
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Brugmansia suaveolens 

Confidence level high