Datura wrightii ~ Sacred Thorn Apple, Jimson Weed, Devil's Trumpet

Datura wrightii has large white flowers up to 6" wide and 9" long. The fragrant flowers open in the evening and last until early morning, sometimes a little longer if there is some cloud cover. The flowers are sometimes tinged with a lavender or pink hue around the outer part of the corolla. The fragrance of the flowers attracts a variety of moths and humans. Datura wrightii blooms from late Spring well into Fall. All parts of Datura wrightii are poisonous and potentially lethal if ingested. Sacred Thorn Apple plants were used medicinally. Individual plants have different concentrations of the alkaloids. This plant should not be experimented with for recreational purposes. Some people get an allergic skin reaction by touching the foliage or sap. Datura wrightii grows in grasslands and disturbed areas throughout the Southern 2/3 of California below 4000 feet elevation and through much of the Southern part of North America. The plants are quite drought tolerant and make a striking ornamental. Datura wrightii grows 2-3 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. Datura wrightii is Winter hardy into the mid 20°s F.