Angel’s Trumpet: The Sweet Smell of Death

On March 24, 2009 I wrote a post called “It’s a weed Jim, but not as we know it”. In that post I included a picture of a plant called Angel’s Trumpet and then said…

This plant is no angel but I can’t tell you about it here. It’s so bad is has to go into Australia’s Bad things category. So I’ll save the Angel’s Trumpet for another day.

Five years on and that day has arrived. Today, you are ready to know. Today, it’s time for me to tell you about Angel’s Trumpet. And no, of course I didn’t forget, honest.

Angels Trumpet: Australian Bad Thing

Angels Trumpet

Angels Trumpet

They are not just an Australian Bad Thing, this plant can also be found in South America, North America, Africa and Asia, as well as my front garden.

Yes, that’s right, the plant in these pictures is in my front garden. Let’s have a closer look at those trumpets…

Trumpets

Those Trumpets

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • They smell absolutely gorgeous.

Cons:

  • They can kill.

Yes, just about every part of this plant is poisonous, very poisonous. Specifically, according to Queensland Health

All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms may include intense thirst, difficulty with speech and swallowing, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, dilated pupils, seizures and coma. Deaths have occurred. The perfume can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and light-headedness. Eye contact with the sap may cause dilated pupils and temporary blindness.

That’s one dangerous plant, isn’t it?

That list of symptoms is very long and one would have thought that the mention of ‘death’ and ‘coma’ would surely convince everyone to stay away from this plant. Unfortunately, some idiots only see the word ‘hallucinations’ and think…

Dude! This will be coooool man, let’s get messed up.

And messed up they will get if they dabble with this stuff, well and truly messed up. Deaths have occurred apparently, although I found no evidence of any fatalities in Australia.

Brugmansia

The scientific name for this large shrub is Brugmansia, it’s part of the Solanaceae family along with a plant called Deadly Nightshade which you probably have heard of. At least “Deadly Nightshade” gives you a clue about the danger of the plant, but “Angel’s Trumpet” gives you no hint of any potential problems at all.

The plant actually gets its name from the shape of the flower, but instead you should think of its name like this:

What kind of state would you likely be in if you actually saw an angel playing a trumpet?

Precisely; this is a plant to stay away from.

Angel’s Trumpet is an Australian Bad Thing.

Update: to find out more about scary plants, and what happened to my Angel’s Trumpet, visit…

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{ 93 comments… add one }
  • AJ Gordon January 2, 2022, 1:46 pm |

    So yesterday was my 2nd time trying this tea. I steeped it for 30min (4 flowers). It has a very pleasant taste. After the 2nd and last cup I began to experience symptoms I did not like. It ruined my night. First was a light fever. Then the intense need to swallow like something was stuck in my throat. My heat beat dropped to 46. I tried to sleep but had anxiety and extreme nervousness. Then the worst was an irrefutable desire to urinate. It felt as if was holding back gallons of water. I could barely pee a few drops. As soon as I payed back down it hurt so bad to have to pee so I would lay down for 5 seconds only to run to the toilet and maybe a super thin stream of urine would come out. This unstopping desire to pee was overwhelming & scary. Then started the losing my balance badly during the whole night. I would wake up to pee and run into walks and doors. I lost I would say 3 hours of sleep feeling super uncomfortable, unhappy and with a painfully strong desire to pee not able to get omit out and have a satisfying release. Then towards 4 in the morning stared hallucinations. I could not understand time anymore. I would try to pee and lay down and then would get right back up immediately but the clock said 30min had passed. I remember looking at a gorgeous clay wall and seeing tons of dirty spots on it. Guess what? The dirty spots are/were not there. Apparently I imagined them. Last but not least when I finally woke up the next morning the travertine in the bathroom all appeared to be flowing liquid. It didn’t matter where I turned my eyes it was all like a sheet of water with oil and dust just moving around. I will say this I eat a ton of safe normal foods that grow wild. I’ve even eaten poisonous plants b4 which had 0 effect on me. I will never make this tea again. 24hours later I’m thirsty but my guy cannot hold anymore liquid. I have a need to swallo but find it difficult & uncomfortable. For about 3 hours I got a horrible sore throat! I will never never mess with this stuff again.

    • BobinOz January 4, 2022, 9:26 pm |

      It ruined your night? By the sound of it, it could have been much worse than that!! Anyway, thank you for doing such thorough research for us, you’ve given us great insight of what this plant can do. I’m a little confused though, you say this is the second time you tried this, so what happened the first time?

      I’ve heard this plant does make people hallucinate, which is often why people take them, hoping that would be a fun experience, but even that didn’t sound much fun when it happened to you. Not exactly the magic mushroom experience, is it?

      Hopefully you haven’t done any permanent harm and you are now fully recovered, and I’m also pleased to hear you won’t be going back for a third try. Thanks for letting us all know about this AJ Gordon, we do appreciate it.

  • Peter Shanahan March 22, 2021, 12:08 pm |

    Bob in Oz. I know of a case of a teenager who died from drinking a brew of Angels Trumpet a.k.a. Datura in Australia. A group of them were partying on Redhead beach South of Newcastle NSW in the late 70s and because they were all tripping did not notice until later than Butchy Kinnaird had drowned by swallowing his own vomit. I knew most of the fellas that were there back then.

    • BobinOz March 23, 2021, 8:43 pm |

      Oh man, that is really sad, a tragic waste while just trying to have a bit of fun. RIP Butchy.

  • joost sieger March 6, 2021, 10:41 pm |

    Hi,
    nice information on this Blog. I live in the Western Cape in South Africa and I discovered an infestation of this plant on our land. The elderly locals call it “malpit”. I can clearly understand now. Have never given to much thought about it but this clearly shows that this is something I should take care of. Not that everybody here is irresponsible but the access to it for experimenting kids could clearly cause harm. And believe me since the lock down they have become quite inventive. The amount of cannabis that is consumed is mind boggling but then I have not heard that someone died of an overdoses. This one here can be lethal if handled the wrong way.

    • BobinOz March 9, 2021, 8:52 pm |

      No, I’ve never heard of anyone dying from an overdose of cannabis, but I’ve certainly heard stories of deaths related to this plant. Experimenting kids could be a problem if they discover these plants in your land, so perhaps you might need to look at how you can stop that from happening.

      Interesting to hear what it is called in your country, that name very much suggest something grim, doesn’t it? Mal, in French, = wrong and pit, or more specifically, pits, in English, is a colloquialism for bad.

  • Leona April 14, 2020, 9:42 am |

    My neighbour has some of those angels trumpet in her yard ,which gives off sweet scent at night but i didn’t know they were poisonous

    • BobinOz April 15, 2020, 6:56 pm |

      Yes, they smell nice, they even look good, but they are poisonous. Knowledge is power and hopefully you will let your neighbour know as well, just so they know too.

  • Phillip Lynch-Harlow July 16, 2019, 8:33 pm |

    Many years ago I had a Police Sergeant Knick on my front door and ask if I had Angels Trimpets growing beside a house I owned in another suburb.
    I said yes and asked why,
    He informed me that the previous evening two people had picked some flowers and leaves and made a tea out of them in an attempt to get high. He said one individual was deceased and the other was critically ill and blind in the hospital.
    He said that it was perfectly legal to have the plant and they were very decorative but could I please remove them so this could not happen again.
    I agreed but it took several months to get rid of them as they continued to root sucker after digging them up. I eventually had to resort to poison.
    I do not know the names of the individuals involved but at least one of them died as a result of ingesting the tea they made.
    So there has been at least one fatality from this plant in Queensland Australia.

    • BobinOz July 18, 2019, 6:08 pm |

      Wow, that is one very scary and incredibly sad story. That’s certainly one of the worries with this plant, kids hear stories that you can get high off of them and then give it a go.

      Doesn’t always turn out well, and sometimes goes very badly, as your story fully explains.

      Best thing is to not have them around, plenty of beautiful looking and smelling flowers that are not this dangerous. Glad to hear you managed to get rid of yours in the end.

  • Finchy July 9, 2019, 3:05 pm |

    Hallucinogens have a place in our world.
    I believe when they are used correctly they can provide a great deal of insight into one’s inner land scape, so to speak.
    What are your thoughts ?

    • BobinOz July 10, 2019, 8:58 pm |

      Yes, without a doubt, they have a place, albeit one that is fraught with danger.

      My music collection would be about 30% as entertaining as it actually is if it weren’t for hallucinogenic’s. Quite a few musicians would still be alive as well, if it weren’t for hallucinogenic’s, but they also wouldn’t have left such a great legacy of music.

      As you say though, using them correctly is the challenge and not many people do.

  • Finchy July 9, 2019, 3:01 pm |

    Dangerous plant indeed.
    Be careful when handling any part of this plant.
    I’m 42 years old. As a teenager some friends and I drank some daytura “tea”.
    Looking back, I’m really lucky to be alive.
    Tripping on daytura is no fun at all ! It’s like being thrown head first into a dream world where the laws of physics are suspended. Phantom “friends” all walking down the street in a group. All of a sudden they would dissapear. I’d start looking for them behind trees, fences, walking into people’s yards, bizarre game of hide and seek.
    I remember thinking I was smoking a cigarette and then it would dissapear, over and over. My friends were locked in cars on the street, screaming at me to let them out, being tortured by leather clad, bikie-type-wraiths. Attempting to “save” them I can remember hitting a car window so many times until the next distraction took me away into it’s amorphous, dreamy angel flower.
    At some stage oblivion came. I awoke in a psychiatric facility.
    One of my friends that drank some of the tea is still insane. He had a psychotic break from reality and
    now suffers drug induced schizophrenia. The doctors said that he had schizophrenia to begin with but
    it may have never activated in the way that it did.
    One of my brothers took some of the flowers to school with him to give to his friends or something. One of his friends experienced a few hours without eye sight.
    This plant is dangerous, yes.
    Fun fact : American indians would use the morning dew collected in the flowers. It contains atropine. =)
    Plants are amazing. I have an unlimited amount of respect for nature and all it’s beauty.

    • BobinOz July 10, 2019, 8:55 pm |

      Thank you so much for such a vivid explanation of the ‘fun’ to be had by making a cup of tea out of this plant. This is exactly the sort of thing so many of us have done when we were younger, as teenagers or even as early 20 somethings. We think we are indestructible when we are that age, clearly we are not.

      Back in England we had ‘magic mushrooms’, easy to find growing wild in many fields around October time. They were hallucinogenic, they contained large amounts of psilocybin. Just a bit of fun, we thought, but looking back, even if these things don’t kill you, and some say they can and some say they can’t, they certainly don’t do much good for your health.

      Of course, there was also the danger of picking a mushroom that was the wrong kind, which could have devastating effects.

      Mistakes happen for those who are unlucky and sounds like your friend was very unlucky, and you came close. I always find it incredibly sad when youngsters come unstuck simply because they are trying to have fun, that’s why I wanted to stick this post up.

      Your story has helped to underline the importance of that message. Thanks for taking the time. And yes, plants are amazing, this planet is amazing when you think about it. We should all be walking around with our mouths wide open in amazement at everything all around us, instead of staring into smart phones 😀

    • Taima December 23, 2019, 9:17 am |

      And yet cannabis is illegal. A good chunk of people try much more dangerous drugs (ethanol included) to avoid incurring the wrath of drug laws meant to protect them as cannabis is conspicuous as hell.

      • BobinOz December 24, 2019, 6:37 pm |

        Cannabis has only been illegal for about the last 70 years I believe, before that it was used medicinally to treat many many conditions. Doesn’t make sense, does it?

  • Ann July 3, 2019, 12:22 pm |

    I was just doing more searching about [fallen] Angel’s Trumpet when I came upon this — not looking for anything about Down Under at all. But we have this plant nearby in Jamaica. My family members have been having health issues, and were advised that the fatigue, forgetfulness, confusion, respiratory issues, etc, can be due to *having this in our yard.* Repeatedly we feel fine away from home, and then are ill when we reach the yard, beginning from before stepping inside the house. We were warned to get it destroyed, chemically and by cutting down and uprooting (we plan to use doubled garbage bags — hopefully there is less risk of re-growth anywhere), and told also to make sure that whoever is doing the job is well-covered, including body, hands, face, eyes, nose, and mouth. I advise the same thing. If you choose not to do so, that is your choice, but make an informed choice, instead of shooting the messenger. … I hope that the honey from bees using its nectar isn’t tainted with the poison…

    • Ann July 3, 2019, 12:24 pm |

      .. Some in our church yard need to get removed, too — the children are prone to smell pretty, sweet-smelling flowers..

      • Ann July 3, 2019, 12:30 pm |

        Maybe we have more potent varieties here than in Australia, USA, etc. The plant really seems to be harming multiple persons here from just being around, not ingesting at all.

        • BobinOz July 4, 2019, 4:54 pm |

          Perhaps your plants are stronger than ours, although according to the Queensland Health, there is a link to their advice about the plant in the above article, among the symptoms they list is ‘The perfume can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and light-headedness.’ They also mention confusion. Sounds like that’s the kind of thing you and your family have been suffering.

          Glad to hear you have managed have the plant removed professionally and I hope that is the end of the symptoms you have all been having.

  • karen June 10, 2019, 8:52 am |

    Thank you for this valuable info. I live in the US and there are so many links on google that are saying the exact same thing you are. I have two angel trumpets going in pots right now, about 2 feet high, that were given to me. The fact that they are poisonous, coupled with the fact that they grow so fast and are invasive, are enough for me to offset the beautify and fragrance of this plant. I will be disposing of them.

    • BobinOz June 10, 2019, 6:39 pm |

      Glad you found my website and happy to have helped. Knowledge is power. Take care, Bob

  • Kelly October 26, 2018, 7:48 am |

    Your post is ignorant and misinformed. Angel’s Trumpets are toxic only if consumed. They DO NOT kill anyone, but the idiots who chose to consume them. These plants also pose no danger whatsoever in handling.

    • BobinOz October 26, 2018, 6:21 pm |

      32-year-old Larry Oneal Wilbanks’ official cause of death was consuming Angels Trumpet, see…

      http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n849/a09.html?1236

      That report also includes details of four teenagers and five children who were hospitalised in separate incidents, where it is said that medical treatment saved their lives.

      The people who choose to consume this plant are not idiots, they are often young children, or they are experimenting, or bored. You might also want to read the comment posted here below by Dcd who did not eat this plant, but it did give him “a horrific rash” making him crazy.

      It is you that is the idiot for suggesting I am misleading people about the dangers of this plant.

      • Kelly February 27, 2019, 12:37 pm |

        As I said “toxic only if consumed by idiots” and your response and link to a so called news article, confirms Larry was indeed an idiot! Furthermore the article is about a death that did not occur in Australia, so please cease whipping up unnecessary hysteria for social likes! There have been NO REPORTED DEATHS in Australia from people who willingly choose to consume Brugmansia and even if they were, the plant as you claim is NOT the killer, there person’s choice/actions of consumption are the killer (also known as suicide).

        • BobinOz February 27, 2019, 6:54 pm |

          So if somebody dies outside of Australia, it doesn’t matter? And idiots don’t matter either? Interesting philosophy Kelly.

          • Kelly May 29, 2019, 12:33 pm |

            Again… you’ve missed the point. You’ve made a claim that this plant is a killer. That is false. All the emotive statements you’ve tossed in to try and give credit to your false statements, are completely irrelevant. Let me repeat… the plant is NOT a killer. The plant is POTENTIALLY harmful, ONLY IF CONSUMED. If an adult CHOOSES to consume this plant, then by definition they are indeed and IDIOT. Mature adults don’t invest energy worrying about fools… though clearly you do! That’s called misplaced sympathy. Children who consume the plant… are unfortunately, victims of adult IDIOTS who fail to provide adequate supervision and education. Whether or not people matter, is an argument unrelated to your post.

            • Andrea May 3, 2021, 12:59 am |

              Jelly you obviously have not read all the comments here or researched it elsewhere. You absolutely can have toxic or deadly effects just from handling the plant. People here have demonstrated that with firsthand experiences. What led me to look this plant up was a real life ER show I just watched. A man moved his potted plant inside before a hurricane then made lunch. He was close to death. The doctor only figured out what it was when his roommate arrived and she questioned what the patient was doing the last time his roommate saw him. She showed him a picture of the plant and he confirmed that’s what it was. Many people don’t know this is toxic. I have dogs who can and will eat grass, play with twigs, pick up flowers. When this contacts the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth which can happen in people accidentally then there is trouble. Other posters here have relayed their own personal stories of this happening. One comment here is a family in Jamaica feeling sick just being around it in their yard. Not saying it should not be grown but pointing out it’s not just people intentionally ingesting it that are getting sick.

        • William March 22, 2019, 8:33 pm |

          Lol, seriously get over yourself!

        • William March 22, 2019, 8:34 pm |

          Lol, get over yourself. Troll!!

      • Kelly February 27, 2019, 12:43 pm |

        Any child harmed by consuming these plants is unfortunately a child of parental neglect… responsible parents not only supervise, but “educate” their children on known dangers (plants are not the only one in life, as much as you might attempt to suggest otherwise).

        Your argument has no merit and indeed by your logic, we should also call cars, planes, food and all manner of other activities/obstacles encountered by humans on a daily basis “killers” to be highlighted and outlawed! Yawn! If you were remotely rational you’d realise how stupid your article is and the embarrassing light it portrays you in. I guess the fact you proudly display a photo of yourself a the top of this article, confirms you indeed lack any kind of rational thought.

        You’re nothing but an alarmist, spreading hysteria!

        • BobinOz February 27, 2019, 6:57 pm |

          Parental neglect? If you have children Kelly, I hope you never, ever, let them out of your site. Ever!

          • Kelly May 29, 2019, 12:35 pm |

            My children are educated and supervised. I certainly hope you don’t have children! I cannot imagine being a child and having my head filled with lies by adults like you.

        • Kenny September 12, 2019, 12:22 pm |

          Hello Kelly im glad to see at least one person on here has some intelligence. The plant IS possibly harmful if ingested irresponsibly! I say irresponsibly because there are shamans who know the way of the plant who can prepare them for spiritual purposes dose it still come with risk yes but life comes with many risk and you must way your pros and cons according. That’s being said I do not recommend the common individual go out and consume a plant they know nothing about and if you do and something unfortunate happens do not blame the said plant. Stay safe everyone peace and love. Also to the individual saying psilocybin fungi are not good for you they are very healing to the body and mind when used respectively and responsibly know one has ever died from ingesting psilocybin fungi also the ld50 could never be reached with psilocybin fungi that also go’s for the holy herb cannabis.

          • BobinOz September 16, 2019, 6:48 pm |

            As you have put it yourself Kenny, you “do not recommend the common individual” eat this plant if they know nothing about it, and as my website is not particularly targeted towards shamans, I think we can both agree that warning my readership about the dangers of this plant is a sensible thing to do.

            Peace and love back at you, see you in Nimbin 🙂

            • Kenny September 16, 2019, 9:06 pm |

              I agree warning is one thing and demonizing is another I just don’t like seeing plants or animals get demonized for people’s mistakes. ✌???

  • Mukasa Kawesa September 25, 2018, 5:00 am |

    I have Angeles Trumpet flower for my bees thst like it’s flowers. I also cut its flowers and put them in my living room because they give a wonderful scent. Now that l have learnt that every part of this flower is poisonous, l will be very careful whenever l pick it’s flowers to put in my flower verse. This plant is common here in Entebbe-Uganda.

    • BobinOz September 27, 2018, 7:00 pm |

      Yes, it is wise to handle this plant with care. Unfortunately for me, I have no sense of smell at all, so I don’t know, but many people, like yourself, do say they smell gorgeous. All the best, Bob

  • Suze July 7, 2018, 11:29 am |

    I had an angel trumpet for years. It looked wonderful and made me happy to see such beauty. Knowing it was poisonous, I wore gloves and glasses when I pruned it and disposed of the cuttings straight away into the green bin. Never composted it. Me and my pets remained healthy because we aren’t stupid enough to eat it. The worst thing I can say about this lovely plant is that it needed a lot of pruning because it grew so well (in Melbourne) and when the flowers dropped it was very messy. Apart from that, I recommend it and just take care. I mean, do you eat your roses? They’re poisonous!

    • BobinOz July 9, 2018, 6:56 pm |

      I think it’s very important to be aware that this plant is poisonous, as you are, and that’s why I wrote this article. Nothing wrong with keeping them in your garden as long as you are careful, and it sounds like you are being very careful.

      I just wanted to make sure as many people knew about the potential dangers as possible.

  • K May 29, 2018, 4:18 pm |

    What an ignorant article. Clearly the fans you’re targeting are the morons who would intentionally eat something they know nothing about… because that is the only way this plant can be harmful. Fact “It is harmful IF CONSUMED”. This article is baseless fear mongering.

    • BobinOz May 30, 2018, 8:36 pm |

      How interesting, another obnoxious comment from someone about a plant, that is, by its nature, obnoxious.

      Even if I were ignorant, which I am not, I do always try to be polite. Maybe you should give it a go.

      Anyway, as the article says, Queensland Health, say “The perfume can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and light-headedness. Eye contact with the sap may cause dilated pupils and temporary blindness.”

      So you don’t have to eat it, just smelling it, or touching it and then touching your eyes can cause problems. Just like a fresh bird’s eye chili would sting if you did the same.

      Also, some parents of teenage experimental children may be aware, which you obviously are not, that these kids sometimes like to experiment with this sort of thing to see if they can get high. See http://scienceblogs.com/terrasig/2010/07/09/angels-trumpet-will-fyou-up/ for example. If they didn’t know, then seeing my article could help them and lead to them removing this plant from their garden and thus removing the temptation and saving a hospitalisation, or worse.

      It’s not just kids either, some older folk can make mistakes if they don’t know. For example “A 64-year-old Korean female presented with acute mental changes caused by inadvertent ingestion of the petals of Angel’s Trumpet flowers used as a garnish in a traditional Korean food (bibimbop). She regained her usual level of awareness after 10 hours.”

      See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148940/

      So I think I have every right to warn people about the dangers of this plant. Seems the ignorance (and obnoxiousness) is all yours.

      • Kelly October 26, 2018, 7:53 am |

        As I said… IGNORANT. Interesting you choose to disregard the word “CAN” in the Qld Health article.. How about you share with us what your qualifications are? Are you a botanist or horticulturist? I imagine not. Nothing more than an ill informed, dramatic fool. The scent of the flowers does not pose any risk whatsoever. Anyone who has grown them for years will attest to that fact. But hey… whittle away your days presenting false information to the masses! You post is at the very least entertaining reading and those lacking the intelligence to research facts will no doubt lap it up.

        • BobinOz October 26, 2018, 6:05 pm |

          Yes, as you’ve said, many, many times. To the point where you are now getting boring.

    • William March 22, 2019, 8:36 pm |

      Troll!!!

  • Edwin Harris Faull April 22, 2018, 5:35 pm |

    Everyone should be allowed to grow brugmansia. Because it’s not as dangerous as you think!
    just remember more people attacked and die by deadly insects mosquitoes and cars accident and war and Lightning !!

    • K February 27, 2019, 12:46 pm |

      Everyone IS allowed to grow Brugmansia. It is NOT illegal in Australia. Best advice is to ignore misinformed articles by BobinOz

  • Edwin Harris Faull April 22, 2018, 4:58 pm |

    Jane
    November 14, 2017
    You are quite clearly an ignorant, uneducated, overly dramatic, ill informed fool. You have no business scaring people with your dishonest summarisation of Brugmansia. It’s only idiot who purposely eat brugmansia plant a lot. And don’t forget there are plants are more dangerous than Brugmansia!! But even the hippopotamus and Lightning kill much more people than plants.

  • Edwin Harris Faull April 22, 2018, 3:09 pm |

    Everyone should be allowed to grow brugmansia.
    just remember more people attacked and die by deadly insects mosquitoes and cars accident and war and Lightning !!

  • Edwin Harris Faull April 22, 2018, 3:00 pm |

    Hi everyone
    It’s okay to grow any brugmansia as long as you don’t eat it. It’s not as dangerous as you think, Bunnings sell oleander plant is very toxic, and like lots of plants are mild\toxic to very toxic. There are lots of plants that are edible, you just have to know which is the right one. Just remember it’s not against the law to grow brugmansia so it’s okay for everyone to grow brugmansia. brugmansia Are very Beautiful plants.
    brugmansia are only dangerous when you eat quite a lot of leaves but Aconitum napellus, “Monkshood, are very dangerous when you eat one big leaves but Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is very toxic and very dangerous when you rubbing tobacco on your bare skin you’ll get tobacco poisoning.
    opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is illegal and are very addictive and dangerous but it’s dangerous only when you eat it.
    There are more dangerous plants than brugmansia, and just remember the idiots purposely eat the wrong plant or mushrooms. Dog and cat very rarely do eat the wrong plants. Kids don’t usually go out eating every plant unless they are idiots. Humans are smart enough to not trust every plant, that they don’t know the plants won’t eat it unless they’re idiots.
    Death cap mushroom are so extremely dangerous.
    The death cap mushroom looks very similar to edible mushroom and there are lots of mistakes with that. Death cap mushroom is no cure and have to hope for the best to survive.
    You Need to understand your logic better.
    Cheers from Edwin

  • Jane November 14, 2017, 9:18 am |

    You are quite clearly an ignorant, uneducated, overly dramatic, ill informed fool. You have no business scaring people with your dishonest summarisation of Brugmansia. Like anything in life… danger exists only for idiots who don’t exercise due care. I have over 17 cultivars of this plant growing in my garden, chickens, children, a dog and four cats… surprise, surprise, with care and education of my children, we are…. yep…. ALIVE! Morons like you are a blight on humanity.

    • BobinOz November 14, 2017, 8:42 pm |

      How wonderful to hear from somebody who is even more obnoxious than the plant itself. Whether your kids and pets are alive or not, and whether you like it or not, this plant is poisonous and dangerous.

      ‘Symptoms may include intense thirst, difficulty with speech and swallowing, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, dilated pupils, seizures and coma. Deaths have occurred.’

      See https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/poisonous-plant-angels-trumpet-brugmansia-x-candida/

      ‘Attempts by Australians to experiment with this aspect of the plant (median age 18, 82 per cent male) have led to hospitalisation for tachycardia and delirium, with associated accidental injury.’

      See http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/angels-trumpet-is-heavenly-20150205-10p5tg.html

      Not to mention Wikipedia…

      ‘All parts of Brugmansia are potentially poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous. Brugmansia are rich in scopolamine (hyoscine), hyoscyamine, and several other tropane alkaloids. Effects of ingestion can include paralysis of smooth muscles, confusion, tachycardia, dry mouth, diarrhea, migraine headaches, visual and auditory hallucinations, mydriasis, rapid onset cycloplegia, and death.’

      See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia

      Anyway, I’d best let you go, you have your work cut out visiting all the other websites on the World Wide Web who are saying how dangerous this plant is and calling them morons.

      • Owais April 19, 2018, 4:04 am |

        I wonder if the honey made from the nectar of the flowers will have similar effects. Bees absolutely love them. I planted a second one and they look amazing in my garden. Luckily they’ve grown tall enough to be well out of reach of my cats and any little humans. Cats and little humans don’t generally go around my garden tasting the leaves, though, so I’m inclined to think I was needlessly worried. An adult could reach the plants easily, but since they’re in my backyard I would hope any humans I let in there don’t go around licking my plants. Any that do can go ahead and hallucinate their way back home and out of my life.

    • Mark November 15, 2017, 6:32 am |

      Hi Jane… Thanks for your very informative view of errrr,,,I guess you learn something new everyday. In your case I have learned that despite this plant as being on record as causing several deaths over the years, that’s several too many, especially for the family and friends of those that died. Some folks like yourself like having it around…OK each to their own I guess (and yes your all alive). Personally Id rather not have the risk…
      You have trained your flock well not to touch it. Which means you know of its nasty side otherwise why would you have educated your children about it….You cannot see the benefits of this slightly tongue in cheek webpage about it, as being helpful to those that don’t know about its toxic effects…
      If this page stops one child touching it and becoming ill through not washing hands etc then I’m all for it… Look at the lady below who was going to press the flowers.
      Personally speaking id say with your verbal attack on the writer (instead of being helpful) you are clearly alive from this plant but I wonder has it had some effect…
      It would also suggest that several other people as you put it are uneducated morons in your eyes. certainly if you read this but I do take your point its not that bad, after all its only number 3 on the list of Australia’s most poisonous plants…Strychnine thats number 2 thats far worse. What harm can Brugmansia be at number 3 ?
      http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2012/07/australias-most-poisonous-plants/
      I can just imagine your place when children visit yes of course you can play in the garden but can you stay away from that plant and that one oh! and that one and don’t go near those and Oh! yes forgot those over there, stay away from them and that one but you have all the rest of the garden to play in..Here is the Ludo board, dont throw the dice too far will you?

      • Owais April 19, 2018, 3:55 am |

        It’s only harmful if ingested. There are no effects imparted from touching it, smelling it (may vary slightly from person to person), looking at it, pointing at it, screaming at it, or sneezing near it. It’s not like poison ivy, where touching it will give you a rash. Its leaves see beautiful and wide, the flowers are leathery and satiny, and the bees absolutely love it. Just don’t let it near your mouth or anyone else’s, just like 90% of the plants in one’s garden, and everything will be just fine.

        • BobinOz April 19, 2018, 8:30 pm |

          Well, Queensland health seem to believe that “The perfume can cause respiratory irritation…” etc, see full quote above, so maybe you should take it up with them. I’m not going to argue with you though, I’m busy bashing my head against a brick wall at the moment 🙂

          • Dcd July 10, 2018, 1:27 pm |

            Thank you. For your info..just late for me..have been pruning this plant constantly not knowing it’s danger..I have a horrific rash making me crazy..not Posione ivy or oak or sumac..on predisone lotion benedryl. Nothing helps..ugh!! wish I had known.. garden place told us if ingested by an animal could kill them, don’t have animals.. nothing about touch.

            • BobinOz July 10, 2018, 8:40 pm |

              Sorry you didn’t find this page earlier, it may have saved you from the suffering you are now going through. I hope it clears up soon, and if it doesn’t, I’d certainly consider going to see a doctor if I were you.

              It sounds mightily unpleasant at the moment.

          • Maree May 29, 2019, 12:39 pm |

            That’s alarming to think a govt department such as Qld Health, would publish false claims, with no supporting evidence. Please provide a link to this statement you claim they’ve made. The perfume does not cause respiratory irritation.

            • BobinOz May 31, 2019, 5:38 pm |

              Is there a reason you have changed your name to Maree? Maybe you think it looks better if ‘someone else’ agrees with you? Anyway Kelly, the link is in the post, where it says Queensland Health. It’s easy to find, it’s a different colour from the rest of the text.

          • S September 4, 2021, 12:24 pm |

            Hi BobinOz
            Please don’t be discouraged ! Your information has been very helpful including many of the comments
            I am So much appreciative of the information on this site
            You are extremely credible and intelligent and have handled the upset person extremely well. I would expect most here would be very proud of your reactions !
            Please don’t let people like that discourage you
            I am very happy that someone like you is around
            Many of us need your information and your logical ability
            Be Blessed !

            • S September 4, 2021, 12:31 pm |

              Also we are researching for information
              I am nearly 60 and most people don’t know about most plants, that’s why we research them when we get some time
              I and many many others had no idea that these and some of the other plants were dangerous at all
              Thankyou very much for your help

              • BobinOz September 7, 2021, 8:17 pm |

                Hi S

                Thank you for your kind words and let me assure you, I am in no way discouraged by any of the comments made here, but I have had a good laugh at some of them 🙂 I’m pleased to hear some of my information has been useful to you, after all, that’s what I put this article up here for, to help people.

                Be blessed yourself and thank you very much for taking the time to comment.

      • Windjreamer June 2, 2019, 10:57 pm |

        I appreciate this well thought out response. I have granddaughters who LOVE to pick my flowers, put them so close to their faces the plant is
        definitely touching them, and smell them intensely. Knowingly eat it? Perhaps not. Just washing their hands can be a challenge after being outside. These comments about idiots and neglected children are unfortunate; I almost planted them without knowing much about the the plant. So, this idiot is most grateful for the article about the potential dangers. I will make an informed decision and pass.

        • BobinOz June 3, 2019, 7:38 pm |

          Glad to have helped Windjreamer, that’s the main reason I wrote this article. And yes, I agree, some of these comments are unfortunate, as well as being incredibly repetitive.

          Oh well 🙂

  • Ozimandias October 4, 2017, 10:20 pm |

    I rather like the comment online “For drama in the garden, there’s nothing like Brugmansia”.
    It sounds like it has more or less the same brain altering properties as Datura, namely anticholinergic poisoning.
    Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter for the brain, important in memory formation and pupillary muscle relaxation, by the looks of things also for perception. This plant has chemicals which block good functioning of acetylcholine, hence the term anticholinergic.
    I’m not sure this is an Australian native plant, though happy to stand corrected.

    • BobinOz October 5, 2017, 9:30 pm |

      Hmm, yes, but not the kind of drama most of us would want in our lives, I’m sure we all quite like a little bit of perception and relaxation, not to mention how nice it is to remember stuff. Thanks for the detail, definitely a plant to stay away from.

  • laetitia October 4, 2017, 9:47 pm |

    Thanks to you my kids and rabbits dog and birds are safe
    I almost bought some for flower pressing leaf pressing kids art. For the kids . Whole plant.
    Kids put hands in mouths without realizing being asthmatics and having allergies towards other plants you saved my family thankyou 🙂

    • BobinOz October 5, 2017, 9:25 pm |

      Rabbits? Rabbits! I do hope you are not in Queensland 🙂

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/16501/wild-and-domesticated-rabbits-in-australia/

      Anyway, I am very pleased to hear that I have saved your kids and pets from the above listed horrors these plants can inflict, it’s actually made my day. It’s probably not quite enough to get me nominated for Australian of the year, but next time I’m in a pub or something and anyone cares to listen to me, I might casually mention about saving some kids and rabbits and dogs and birds, in a non-boastful way of course 🙂

  • Elena January 25, 2017, 11:57 am |

    Hello there! I wonder if your angel trumpet tree is in Melbourne? if so, I would love with your permission to get some of the flowers please! Thank you.

    • BobinOz January 27, 2017, 4:42 pm |

      No, my Angel trumpet tree was not ever in Melbourne, it was in Brisbane. Alas, it is no more, having cold-bloodedly been poisoned before it poisoned my cat, dog or any other creature. Live by the sword, die by the sword, as they say.

      I think you can get them in garden centres though 🙂

    • K May 29, 2019, 12:41 pm |

      Elena,
      If you wish to send me a message, I am more than happy to tell you where you can by these beautiful and safe plants.

  • i know September 5, 2016, 7:15 pm |

    haha there isnt two plants that look the same theres just the one and i guarantee you have no idea what your on about. i dont know how to say it but you think theres two plants haha theres just different names for the same plant in the picture. maybe you did have some and youve been affected so bad you read up on it and got confused. the other species of this plant are from overseas and the flowers come in different colours. haha what more do you need to be told you moron

    • BobinOz September 7, 2016, 12:21 am |

      Allow me to share with you my thoughts. You posted this particular comment at 7:15 PM on 5 September using the name ‘i know’. With this comment you come across as arrogant, telling me I don’t know what I’m on about, and insulting, you call me a moron. You also appear to be suffering from intermittent uncontrolled laughter which presents itself with your copious use of ‘haha’.

      Then, just 13 minutes later and a few comments below, you post another comment using the name ‘yeahnah bullish’. In this comment there is no arrogance displayed, no insults and no sign of that uncontrolled laughter. I think you have to face reality; your use of Angels trumpets appears to have induced paranoid schizophrenia, which we used to call split personality in the old days but which I now believe is referred to as Dissociative Identity Disorder.

      I’d stop munching flowers if I were you, and maybe see a doctor.

      • yeahnah bullish September 7, 2016, 1:05 pm |

        i like your assumptions about me they make me laugh because this whole article YOU posted is an assumption about something youve never experienced so there for you DONT know and as for what i do in my life …the last thing ill do is be judged and take advice from someone who posts an article on something they know nothing about. checkmate .

        • BobinOz September 8, 2016, 9:05 pm |

          I don’t have to try Angel’s trumpet before warning people of its dangers, same as I don’t have to be eaten by a crocodile to warn people not to swim in rivers in Northern Territory.

          You think I have got the wrong plant here and so does George Fuller below. I don’t think I have, but when I say ‘I don’t think I have’ that’s what I mean. I don’t have your arrogance so I am not going to say I’m definitely right.

          I will leave people to judge for themselves, by visiting the International Brugmansia and Datura Society. Here’s how they describe the difference:

          Angel’s Trumpet versus Devil’s Trumpet

          It is easy to envision the hanging flowers of Brugmansia as Angel’s Trumpets, blasting from the heavens towards the Devil down below. Likewise, Datura’s trumpet-shaped flowers call upwards to the heavens. Datura prefer to be watered only when the roots are dry; Brugmansia require more water. One should avoid watering Datura from overhead, as this will spoil the upwards-facing flowers.

          http://ibrugs.com/Home.aspx

          As they clearly state, Datura flowers face upwards, as you can see in the photograph, my flowers definitely point downwards towards the devil. I am no gardener, but from everything I’ve read I still believe my flowers are Angel’s trumpet.

          • Owais April 19, 2018, 4:16 am |

            Your are 100% correct, according to my, and the internet’s, knowledge.

      • Tina May 25, 2017, 1:41 pm |

        “Schizophrenia” and “Multiple Personality Disorder/ Split personality” as it was called in the old days and now goes by” Dissociative Identity Disorder”. are 2 totally different mental disorders. You should check up on your facts before you go throwing around labels to very serious illnesses to appear funny and clever. You just end up looking ignorant,arrogant and uninformed.

        • BobinOz May 25, 2017, 8:20 pm |

          Yes, humour can often cause offence to small minorities, always has and hopefully always will because if we have to check every joke for political correctness before we are allowed to say it, there will be much less joviality in the world.

          And no, I didn’t check my facts, but this is just a comment, I’m not writing an article for a medical journal. There are over 40,000 comments on this website and I get involved in a lot of conversations. If I had to research everything I say in these comments before I publish them, I’d never get any sleep. What I try to do when somebody is aggressive or insulting towards me is to defuse it with humour and that’s what I tried to do in this conversation.

          I won’t bother with you though, I’m sure you would find offensive if I did.

        • Chelsea August 18, 2017, 4:01 pm |

          To Tina –

          Your comment was SOOOO annoyingly rude and so unnecessary. Leave this man alone, it’s not like he was writing an article about mental disorders. He was simply stating his opinion, and I agree with him . Rediculous.

  • yeahnah bullish July 21, 2016, 8:40 pm |

    um that plant in the picture is datura and i know this because i eat it and yeah it can kill you if you overdo it .dont correct me because im right i know from experience .i once had this plant and time slowed down.it is potent but in small doses its okay .whoever made this page doesnt know that all datura makes you trip out and is poisoness. try it before you judge it please

    • BobinOz July 22, 2016, 3:15 pm |

      ‘try it before you judge it please’ – that’s the funniest thing I’ve read from a long time!

      Try it? Whether it’s Angel’s trumpet or datura, they are both quite toxic, why would anybody want to try it? I still think my pictures are of angel’s trumpet, but I know the two plants are very similar and often mistaken for each other, so we’ll just have to disagree.

      But thanks for making me laugh; if ever I want time to slow down, I know what to do now 🙂

      • yeahnah bullish September 5, 2016, 7:28 pm |

        haha its your loss if you dont try it and simply judge it. i have stepped through different levels of reality and you have sat shortmindedly judging this wonder of nature. it makes you very thirsty and makes your eyes look awsome for a few days ,you can sense if someone is good or evil now by the vibes they give out, ive got to tell you if you dont eat/drink/smoke this flower youll never know what it does but ill leave that up you if you believe propaganda or not. it can kill you but in the right doses its not that bad. maybe you havent got the courage because you believe stories .it does some weird things but nothing that matters

  • George fuller August 15, 2015, 1:17 pm |

    You got the wrong plant!!! You want Datura. That’s the angel of death. A close cousin of Brugmansia which is not poisonous at all. The Datura has spike seed pods and a saw tooth leaves.

    • BobinOz August 16, 2015, 7:13 pm |

      I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here George, but the pictures I have of plants in my post are definitely Angel’s Trumpet, scientific name Brugmansia and they are toxic and can kill.

      There is another plant called Datura which is also known as Angel’s Trumpet and is also poisonous, but that’s not what this post is about.

  • Marion January 26, 2015, 12:39 pm |

    When you say Angles Trumpet is deadly do you mean by smelling flowers
    touching the leaves & or cutting the plant back. ?
    How long does it take for affects to take affect.?
    marion

    • BobinOz January 27, 2015, 5:21 pm |

      All I can tell you for sure Marion is that smelling the flowers is not a problem, I think you have to do something stupid like eat them or make a cup of tea out of the leaves. I’m not sure what handling them does, probably best to wear gardening gloves and you certainly don’t want to be touching them and then putting your fingers in your mouth.

      I had an Angels Trumpet in my front garden for about six years or so, nobody died 🙂

    • K May 29, 2019, 12:45 pm |

      Oh sad… Bob responds with “I think”! Marion… Brugmansia (common name Angel’s Trumpet) is potentially toxic, only if consumed. Handling and smelling poses nil risk. Some simple Google research will derive some factual information on this plant. Do not pay mind to the unsubstantiated claims Bob has made on this site.

      • BobinOz May 31, 2019, 5:45 pm |

        Not true Kelly, read the statement from Queensland Health. The bit where it says “The perfume can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and light-headedness.

        So smelling can pose a risk.

  • Kamma May 1, 2014, 7:19 pm |

    Wow! Thanks for the warning, Bob. Stay clear of trumpets.

    I was just about to say that! You’re probably not in a very good place, or rather in way to good a place, if angels are playing trumpets around you.

    • BobinOz May 2, 2014, 8:31 pm |

      Yes, maybe it is a good place, but I don’t think many of us consider ourselves ready for it just yet. 🙂

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