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Angel's Trumpet
A spectacular ornamental with huge hanging trumpet flowers - and a strongly toxic plant whose greatest danger is deliberate misuse as a hallucinogen, which is regularly fatal. Recognize it, keep it from children and pets, and never experiment with it.
Safety notes STRONGLY TOXIC - never eat, brew, or ingest any part, and never use it as a drug. Every part contains tropane alkaloids causing hallucinations, delirium, high fever, and death. It is especially dangerous because people (often teens) misuse it as a hallucinogen, frequently fatally - the toxic and 'active' doses are dangerously close. It is a dramatic ornamental with big hanging trumpet flowers. Keep it from children and pets; if ingestion is suspected, call poison control immediately.
Overview
Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) is one of the most dramatic ornamental plants grown in warm gardens and patios - a large tropical shrub or small tree hung with enormous, pendulous, trumpet-shaped flowers in white, peach, yellow, and pink, often filling the evening air with powerful fragrance. It is also strongly toxic in every part, containing tropane alkaloids (scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine) that cause severe poisoning: hallucinations, delirium, racing heart, high fever, and death.
What makes angel's trumpet especially dangerous isn't accidental nibbling so much as deliberate misuse: because of its alkaloids, people - often teenagers - sometimes brew or eat it seeking a hallucinogenic experience, and the results are frequently catastrophic. The gap between an 'active' dose and a lethal one is dangerously small, the effects are terrifying rather than pleasant, and poisonings routinely end in the hospital, in lasting harm, or in death. This identification and safety guide exists to help you recognize the plant (those unmistakable hanging trumpets), understand that its beauty hides real danger, keep it away from children and pets, and - crucially - understand and communicate that it must never be used as a drug. If any ingestion or misuse is suspected, treat it as an emergency.
Quick facts
For identification. Not a growing guide.
- Height
- 10 ftRange: 5–20 ft
- Spread
- 8 ftRange: 4–12 ft
- Cold
- Killed by frostdamaged below 25°F
- Heat
- Struggles above 105°F
- Life cycle
- Perennial, lives about 15 years
- Habitat
- Full sun · Part sun · Part shade, well-drained soil
Through the year
A field guide through time
Explore the stages to recognize this plant throughout its life.
Stage 1 of 3 · The recurring year
Large-leaved shrub or small tree (identify & avoid)
Apr to Aug, every year
Know this stage
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Big soft leaves on a woody tropical shrub/small tree
Angel's trumpet grows as a large, fast-growing tropical shrub or small tree (5-20 feet in warm climates, often container-grown and cut back elsewhere) with big, soft, oval leaves, sometimes with wavy or toothed edges. The whole plant has a rank smell when the foliage is bruised. It's grown as a dramatic ornamental and patio plant. Learn its bold-leaved form, and never handle it without gloves or let sap reach your mouth or eyes.
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Keep it away from children, pets, and any experimentation
Because every part is strongly toxic, keep angel's trumpet where children and pets cannot reach it, and be aware that its greatest danger is deliberate misuse: it is sometimes brewed or eaten as a hallucinogen, which regularly causes severe poisoning, permanent harm, or death. Never allow it to be used this way, and talk with older children and teens about why this pretty plant is genuinely dangerous.
Months are typical seasonal windows; climate, variety, and plant age can shift them.
Hazards
Deliberate Misuse HazardSeverity High HazardnowSeason: year-roundSigns the plant is being harvested, brewed, chewed, or discussed for recreational use, especially by teens; missing flowers, leaves, or seed pods; a poisoned person who may not admit what they took.
Signs the plant is being harvested, brewed, chewed, or discussed for recreational use, especially by teens; missing flowers, leaves, or seed pods; a poisoned person who may not admit what they took.
Any suspected misuse is a medical emergency - call poison control / emergency services immediately and be honest about what was taken; prevention and open communication are the only reliable safeguards.
Never use it as a drug and make clear to others (especially teens) that it must not be; reconsider growing it where young people have access; keep seeds and all parts out of reach; and have open conversations about the real danger.
The plant's most distinctive danger: because of its psychoactive alkaloids, people (often teenagers) sometimes brew or eat angel's trumpet seeking a hallucinogen. This regularly causes severe poisoning, terrifying delirium, permanent harm, and death, because the toxic and 'active' doses are dangerously close and unpredictable.
Poisoning by Ingestion (deadly)Severity High HazardnowSeason: year-roundAny ingestion of leaves, flowers, nectar, or seeds; symptoms can include agitation, hallucinations, flushed dry skin, dilated pupils, fever, and rapid heartbeat - a medical emergency.
Any ingestion of leaves, flowers, nectar, or seeds; symptoms can include agitation, hallucinations, flushed dry skin, dilated pupils, fever, and rapid heartbeat - a medical emergency.
Suspected ingestion is an EMERGENCY - call poison control / emergency services (or a vet) immediately; do not wait for symptoms. Treatment is urgent supportive medical care; tell responders it is a tropane-alkaloid plant.
Recognize it and keep every part away from children and pets; never eat, brew, or taste any part or the nectar; handle with gloves and wash after; and remove it from areas young children can access.
The hazard is severe poisoning of people or animals: every part contains tropane alkaloids (scopolamine, atropine, hyoscyamine) that cause hallucinations, delirium, dilated pupils, high fever, racing heartbeat, and death. The alkaloid content varies unpredictably, so even a 'small' amount can be dangerous.
Grower tips
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