Brugmansia sanguineaRed Angel's Trumpet

Brugmansia sanguinea stands apart from the rest of its genus. Where the others are night-scented and moth-pollinated, this Andean species is pollinated by hummingbirds, so its pendulous trumpets are scarlet at the mouth shading to green and yellow, and they carry no scent at all.

It comes from cool, moist mountain country between 2,000 and 3,000 metres, and that is the honest limit on where it will succeed. It sulks in prolonged heat and needs a mild, humid, frost-free site.

Specifications

• Height2 to 4 metres
• Width1.5 to 3 metres
• Native toThe Andes, from Colombia south to northern Chile
• FoliageLarge, soft, ovate leaves with a downy surface; evergreen in mild frost-free conditions
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers rich, moist, well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate to high; will not tolerate drying out
• ClimateThrives in cool, humid subtropical and highland regions and performs poorly in prolonged heat

Additional Features

• FlowersPendulous tubular flowers, scarlet at the mouth shading to yellow-green, carried for months in cool weather
• UsesFeature planting in mild-climate gardens, sheltered courtyards and large containers
• SpacingPlant 2 to 3 metres apart to let the arching framework develop
• Low MaintenancePrune after flowering to maintain shape; feed and water generously through the growing season
• Pest ResistanceWatch for whitefly and spider mite in dry or sheltered positions
• ToxicityEvery part of the plant is highly toxic if ingested, so it should not be used near play areas or grazing
• FormAn arching, open-framed shrub that can be trained as a small multi-stemmed tree

The Red Angel's Trumpet is a striking cool-climate feature shrub, and it needs a site chosen to match.