LES DATURAS EN ARBRE, SPECTACULAIRES, PARFUMÉS MAIS POISONS REDOUTABLES Le Quotidien du Jardin N°209

NewsJardinTV, the channel dedicated to plants, gardens, botany, nature, and gardening, is pleased to welcome you to Nicole and Patrick Mioulane's garden for issue 209 of its daily show: "Le Quotidien du Jardin." The editor-in-chief of NewsJardinTV responds to our subscriber Jean Cavanis, who asked the following question: Are all daturas dangerous plants? I'd like to plant the one with large, hanging flowers in my garden in Loiret, France. Daturas, herbaceous plants with upright flowers that are distinct from Brugmansias, shrubby plants with hanging flowers (tree daturas), are among the most toxic ornamental plants. Since Brugmansias are not hardy, it is not possible to plant them in the ground anywhere other than on the Côte d'Azur or certain well-sheltered spots on the west coast of France. Datura and Brugmansia are closely related plants in the Solanaceae family. Although their flowers can be stunning, Datura (31 taxa) are not recommended for gardens. Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), introduced to Europe in the 17th century, escaped from medicinal plant gardens and became naturalized. It can appear spontaneously as its seeds spread from the wastelands the plant colonizes. Native to tropical South America, Brugmansia are unknown in the wild; the specimens found naturalized in some tropical areas have spread from cultivated plants. Brugmansia (16 taxa) are therefore listed by the IUCN Red List as extinct in their native range, although they are commonly cultivated. Brugmansias grow into large shrubs or small trees, 3 to 10 m tall, with a semi-woody, highly branched trunk. The stems bear evergreen, alternate leaves, 10 to 30 cm long, oblong, and covered with fine hairs. The popular name "angel's trumpet" refers to the large, single or double, trumpet-shaped, hanging flowers, 20 to 50 cm long. Most exude a powerful and pleasant fragrance, more noticeable in the evening because it attracts pollinating moths. Brugmansia sanguinea is odorless because its red flowers are pollinated by long-billed hummingbirds. The caterpillars of the South American butterfly Placidula euryanassa feed on the leaves of Brugmansia suaveolens. They store the plant's toxic alkaloids, which provide the adult butterfly with an effective defense system. • Brugmansia arborea: bears long, fragrant, white trumpets with lobed, tapered edges and an upturned tip. • Brugmansia aurea: similar to the previous one, but with very fragrant yellow flowers in the evening. • Brugmansia x candida: solitary, pendulous, white or pale yellow trumpets, fragrant in the evening and at night. The cultivar 'Grand Marnier' has a yellow base and a pink tip. • Brugmansia sanguinea: from late summer to early autumn, long, pendulous, tubular trumpets with a slightly flared, slightly upturned corolla. Orange to orange-red, yellow at the base and on the veins. The cultivars 'Orange Julius' with salmon-orange flowers or 'Pumpkin Yellow' with large, bright yellow flowers are interesting. • Brugmansia suaveolens: difficult to distinguish from other species, but the pink-flowered form is commonly grown. Daturas and brugmansias secrete formidable alkaloids. These substances are used in medicine and synthesized for their spasmolytic, antiasthmatic, narcotic, and anesthetic properties. All parts of Brugmansia are toxic, with the seeds and leaves being the most dangerous. Ingestion causes muscle paralysis, confusion, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, tremors, migraines, poor coordination, delirium, visual and auditory hallucinations, pupil dilation (mydriasis), and even rapid death. Brugmansias grow in moist, fertile, and well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. They must be kept frost-free. Due to their rapid growth, they are heavy feeders that must be fed throughout the growing season. A rose fertilizer is suitable. Thank you for watching this daily program. We hope you enjoyed our video. Our team hopes you enjoy your time and looks forward to seeing you again this Monday at 7 p.m. for a new episode of our show "LE QUOTIDIEN DU JARDIN." It's on NewsJardinTV and nowhere else! Patrick will answer this question: Following your video on decontamination using plants, you didn't mention the nettle, which has greater absorbency than the common reed. You should tell us more about this plant...