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
| Family | Solanaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | South America |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Brugmansia suaveolens |
| Confidence level | high |
