Thriving on damp fertile land that is also well drained, the South Americas Brugmansia has been a challenge on our rather thin poor Mediterranean soil. Over wintered in situ the shrub took a real battering in the cold mountain winds but re-sprouted in the spring sunshine to establish itself once more. Flowering this year has been delayed but now that a little rain falls on the garden the blooms have arrived with a delightful autumn flourish.
Come sundown Brugmansias' fill the air with fragrance, this is a plant that should be planted as close to the patio as possible where its floral candelabra will highlight your display both visually and through its perfume.
The plants are long lived (with a little protection) and their large shallow root run makes them less suitable to container growing once mature. If you have a potted specimen it can be pruned to shape quite easily.
Once winter arrives we will take a leaf from the book of local gardeners who wrap the tender stems in loose balls of newspaper fixed with vine wire. The paper insulates the stems and absorbs the dew from the plant, it is a combination of cold and wet that kills the stems. The roots will be given an insulating covering of mulch to protect them from winter cold and heavy rain. We had some success overwintering our Canna lilies despite extreme cold hopefully this will work on the Angel's trumpets.
