What is this white, tube-like/bell-like flower?

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:03 am

I bought flowers seeds on eBay and I think the seller mixed the seeds up. I have these pretty flowers that start as a long tube and then usually bloom in the evenings or on cooler days, and then the flower closes after about 2 days and a little spiky ball forms which is a seed pod. Can you please tell me what these are? Thanks in advance, you guys are the best.

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:04 am

They almost look like moon glories when they're in bloom but they are big and they aren't vines.

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:46 am

First thing that came to mind when I saw your pictures is a Moon Flower Ipomoea alba. Moon flower is a vine but it looks like you have it growing as ground cover perhaps? The habit you discribe is like the moon flower as well blooming during the night hence the name moon flower.

Hope this helps.

Here is a photo of a Moon Flower

Though I don't think it is Moonflower because the leaves seem a bit different and so does the length of the flower ... hmm

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:49 am

AH HA!! I figured it out!! lol They are called Datura meteloides.... I think :lol:

lower growing and shrubby with upright flowers that can reach as large as eight inches.

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:56 am

YES! That is them! You are the best! Thanks so much for the QUICK and informative reply.

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:57 am

We have a peachy colored one in the corner flower bed. Yours is beautiful!!! They die back every winter and come back every summer. They bloom late like this every year. I think mine was called Jacob's trumpet. Either way, they are stunning

Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:01 am

Your so very welcome

Always happy to be able to help.

Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:24 pm

Poisonous. As in, really do not stick your face in them for the lovely scent. Lots of poisonous stuff, especially in Florida yards, but the Datura spp. and related Brugmansia spp. are possibly more dangerous than oleander.

Sat Sep 18, 2010 6:11 pm

@thanrose: Oooh, they are very poisonous? I handle the seed pods and seeds, should I be extra careful when doing so? I am a little OCD about washing my hands anyways but it's good to know.

@LindsayArthurRTR: Peach colored, how beautiful! Would you like to trade seeds? I have more than enough seeds from these, hundreds! I would be willing to trade them if you're interested.

@ewilderedGreenyO.o: Thanks again!

Sat Sep 18, 2010 6:34 pm

Mia: they're Very Toxic; all parts of the plant contain high concentrations of Atropine and Scopalamine. Wear gloves.

This said, I just love Daturas, and I grow the purple-flowering D. inoxia and D. stramontium in my yard because I just can't get enough of the lovely, delicate scent as well as the colour, which is just a little different each time the plants flower. I'm as careful with them as I am with my Oleanders, though - I wear gloves to handle the plants and their seed, and I carefully wash and sterilize my tools after cutting them.

D. inoxia

D. stramontium

Sat Sep 18, 2010 8:06 pm

How does one kill them?
I have them all over my yard. I chop them down and they return.
Nothing will eat them either!
I keep thinking...blow torch!

Sat Sep 18, 2010 8:50 pm

Blowtorch actually works pretty well to kill them. So does pulling them up before they bloom.

Sat Sep 18, 2010 9:42 pm

Blow torch time, they are all in full bloom!

Sun Sep 19, 2010 12:18 am

@lorax and thanrose: Okay, they're highly toxic. I believe I can deal with that. The only problem is, I didn't realize how big they would get and how much they would spread. I would like to move them to the back of my yard along the fence line. I have a small dog who goes into the yard but she doesn't mess with the plants much, she's a prissy papillon, she couldn't get sick from brushing past them could she? If so, I am going to move them AND fence them in. But wait, do they transplant well? Can I cut them down and transplant them? I should just be sure to dispose of the cuttings and wear gloves when handling them, correct? Any advice is appreciated. Otherwise I will just pull the one I have and throw it away and start new plants towards the back. Will they do well in partial shade? THANK YOU!

Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:43 am

@lorax, BTW, your flowers are gorgeous. I have double purple datura metel growing and they are about to bloom for the first time! I'm so excited.

Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:40 pm

Your dog will be fine unless she actually eats them, and most animals are smart enough to stay away from Dats and Brugs.

I've never tried cutting them to transplant - usually I just uproot the whole schmoo and transplant that. I've got no idea how they might react to being pruned, but I expect it might make them bushier. However, I'm a fan of the natural growth habit of the types I plant - their fractal structure is very obvious and striking to me. Most of mine grow in part shade; it just makes them a bit bigger in the leaves.

And yes, dispose of the cuttings rather than composting, and wear gloves (I like disposable Nitriles) while handling.

I'm envious of you and double Dats - I've never had any luck with the cultivars, which is why what you see for my flowers are actually harvested from a weedy local lot (ie wild Dats).

Sun Sep 19, 2010 9:36 pm

Beautiful flowers but why would anyone grow a poisonous plant. Espeacially in my position I have kids and pets.

No offense but not for me, thanks. :wink:

Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:44 am

I agree. I am pushing it even having rooted 3 Oleander cuttings lol

I read an article once that said

"But aren't oleanders poisonous? Sure they are; so what! You aren't planning to eat your oleanders, are you? Those of us who live up North should know that rhododendrons and azaleas, which we all grow and love, are as bad or worse than oleanders in the toxin department. So is English ivy. Daffodils and lily-of the valley will send you straight to Hades, too, not to mention all those houseplants: poinsettias, dieffenbachias, philodendrons, Christmas peppers, and peace lilies (there's a reason they're called peace lilies!). Your animals are too smart to munch on them, and you and your children should be, too."
http://www.oleander.org/culture.html

Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:52 pm

Not to mention Euphorbias and their ilk, a number of cacti, most Amaryllis, and a goodly selection of popular annual flowers as well (Jerusalem Cherries, anyone? No? How about Impatiens?)

I grow a great many toxic plants, although probably my Brugmansias and Oleander are the worst culprits, but BG has an excellent point. My parents taught me at a very early age that unless it was a plant that I 100% recognized, I shouldn't even touch it without asking somebody, let alone eat it. I will pass that down to my own kids when I have them - especially here, where there are so many more toxic plants.

If I were limited by non-toxic contents, my garden would be about 80% smaller than it is today.

Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:52 pm

I AM SO EXCITED EVERYONE! MY DOUBLE PURPLE DATURA METELOIDS ARE BLOOMING TODAY. OMG THEY'RE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL! WHAT DETAIL IN THE FLOWER DESIGN! I WILL HAVE SEEDS IN A LITTLE WHILE SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THEM, LET ME KNOW.

THESE SHOULD SEED LIKE THE WHITE ONES CORRECT? LITTLE SPIKY FRUITS? THANKS. I'LL POST PHOTOS WHEN THEY'RE IN FULL BLOOM! <3

Sorry for the caps, I was so excited. LOL!

@lorax, thank you so much for the helpful information and replies.

Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:53 pm

Today was a nice day to walk out into my garden, the caterpillar that had it's cocoon on the handrail of my porch fluttered right into my face when I opened the door and then to see the gorgeous purple datura metel flowers blooming, terrific!

Mon Sep 20, 2010 10:29 pm

They sound amazing! You should post a picture of them on here

Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:43 pm

Hey everyone, the daturas (my datura meteloids & double purple daturas) are huge and beautiful. However, the datura meteloids have gone kind of crazy. I see how people can have problems with them getting out of hand. Thankfully I have mine somewhat under control, as soon as the flower starts to wilt, I cut it off, not giving it a chance to seed, that seems to help!