The angel's trumpets have been putting on an impressive display of flowers this fall.
That's because this South American native loves cooler nighttime temperatures.
This was our first year growing these plants. We grew them from cuttings taken from another plant. I wasn't even sure they would even bloom the first year. But we gave them plenty of water and fertilizer, and they rewarded us spectacular flowers. This one had so many blossoms that they were touching the ground.
In early spring, we planted the cuttings that we had rooted along the side of our garden fence,
and the back of the fence.
Here you can see one of those gorgeous blooms. But today, we put them to bed for winter.
Leo whacked them off and left only a few inches showing above ground. Since we are in zone 8, we left our plants in the ground. But in cooler areas, they must be dug up, placed in a container, and winterized.
We plan to mulch the stumps heavily with wheat straw, hoping that the roots survive.
The good thing is that I can cut these branches, place them in water, and root them. That way I'll be assured that I'll have some plants next year in case the others don't make it.
These sweet potato vines won't survive the cold, either. They're the next to go. Winter's coming on.
Candace whitehead
I leave my angel trumpets in the ground in the winter an they come back every year the plant gets even bigger every year an I break off cuttings an put them in a pot of top soil or dirt an they grow an I let them get bigger before I plant them in the ground I love them so much if you have cuttings close to winter then bring them in an plant them in the ground in the spring an keep them watered an miracle grow them to an you'll have beautiful flowering angel trumpet
Kristy
What fertilizer do you use? Mine grew tall and skinny and never flowered.
Zelma Cleaveland
A friend brought me a single Angel trumpet plant in a 6” container about 3 years ago. I planted it in a 5 gallons pot and it grew like crazy and bloomed the first year. I’m in Missouri , so took it into garage and also had cuttings that I put in a bucket of water . In the spring I had my parent plant and a couple of the cuttings were viable. Last year I took my parent plants and a bunch of cutting me to my basement to overwinter. This spring I had my parent plants and about 5 viable rooting. I traded two of my coral colored ones to a friend for two yellow ones and gave a couple more away. I have 5 plants in big 15 Gal pots and plan to cut today and overwinter the parent plants in garage and take many cuttings to the basement for more starts for next spring to spread around my yard and to share with friends. Someone may need to hold my had today as I cut them back as they are absolutely full of blooms!
Jane Windham
I know! It’s so hard to cut them when they have blooms!
Ellie
Hello and love your Brugmansias!! Just gorgeous!
I have kept mine in a pot but wonder if it might be possible to put them in the ground here. .Temperatures here range from 100 to 15 degrees or so but we get 100 inches of rain a year so while we get little rain during the summer months, we make up for that and then some the rest of the time. Any thoughts about putting them directly in the ground and prevent them from being watered all year?
Zone 8b 15°F to 20°F. I have had trouble winterizing mine and recently learned they should winter over in a dark cool place like a basement that stands somewhere between 30 to 45 degrees F. I do not have a place indoors that will maintain that, unfortunately. I also live in the Pacific Northwest, specifically, WA between the Hoh Rainforest and the Quillayute Rainforest so you can imagine the rain here from time to time. . Zone 8b 15°F to 20°F. I have thought about trying to winterize it outside since in the home it would range from hot to cold and not dark generally but I am concerned about the amount of rain (some areas of the yard will flood and hold water for a few days in the heaviest of rains). Our rainy season varies but typically it starts in late fall and all the way through early spring, with interesting wind storms in between. I was wondering if you had any possible insights or tips for this.
Thank you so much for your time.
Jane Windham
Since they are tropical plants, I would think that they would do fine with the amount of rainfall that you experience.
Julie GB
Dear Leo and Jane!
Your trumpets are beautiful! I was very impressed with the fact that Leo is cutting them back, down, so short. I have a problem, well to me it is a huge problem since I am a beginner gardener and don't have much time on hand to garden more. I have mature trumpet vines that are rooted on my side of the fence but then along the years, have grown intertwined within the fence and thus traveling onto my neighbor's side and then some of the top folds back onto his side and some on mine. Last year, on a fine Sunday afternoon, I got myself a heart attack glancing and SEEING my neighbor's yard! Something was odd but I made a few minutes realising what had happened: my dear neighbor had decided to give the vine a 'little' trim! Taking off more then four feet of top vine! I was at a loss: of privacy and of blooms and next seasons's blooms! This year, I want to make sure this doesn't happen again and want to tackle bringing the all the vines back onto my side. But this involves lots of work, taking down part of the fence, or all the fence down or relocating the vines...this latter seems to be even more daunting. For the simplest reason that I never did this before. Any suggestions? I could send photo if this could help. I have about six to eight vines at about one foot apart. Trunks are of three inches in diameter for the large ones and the rest are small branches and shoots are appearing at the foot and on the branches right now. I can see by the trunks that they have been cut back in the past and that at about four feet from the ground; now the branches are way up above nine to ten feet in the air. Sorry, Canadian talk, about three meters high.
What should I do? What would you do? I don't mind to work the fence but that means I have to have a good talk with my neighbor first, then after get some helping hands.
All the best, looking forward to reading your insight,
Julie
Ontario Canada - Zone 5-6 😉 they stay in ground and survive winters
Jane Windham
They will grow back quickly, Julie.
Carmen Arvelo
Did your roots survive the winter? I am also in Zone 8 and was planning on moving the plant indoors over winter.
Jane Windham
Yes, the plants will grow back from the roots. Fertilize in the spring and give them plenty of water.
Yulia Yarosh
Hi Jane!
I know it’s an older post, but I was wondering if your angel trumpets survived the winter in the ground. I am in zone 8 and my angel trumpets are getting too big for their containers. I’m debating whether or not to plant them in the ground permanently. Thank you!
Tonesha Smith
Hello Jane,
I don't have a green thumb at all, I was given an angel's trumpet as a house warming gift. I was so afraid of killing it. I planted it in the ground instead of leaving it in the container. It bloomed well this past August - now. Live in Georgia (Zone 7, I think). I'm having a hard time with what to do. Online, I see that it should be cut back and stored in the basement.
I've also seen two houses in the next neighborhood with HUGE treelike plants. I'm wondering if mine will survive w/out uprooting. It's about 5 ft tall now.
Any advise?
Val
Hi there iam in zone 6-7 just wondering what is the best way for me to store my trumpet I have it in a large pot and I will bring it into my garage ,just wondering do I need to cut it back and water it through winter please send me an email val
Jane Windham
I would cut back the plants until you have about 5 to 6 inches left on each stem. Then I would put them in the garage. I don't think you'll need to water them until the weather warms up a bit in early spring. Make sure that the temperature inside your garage is above freezing on cold nights, though!
Joyce K. Smith
Just got two starts from a friend. Planted them in a huge pot. I am so anixious to see if I can get them to survive. My friend says she takes hers in at first signs of frost. I think I live in zone 4< central Missouri.
Jane Windham
Joyce, I think you will have good luck with yours as long as you bring them inside before frost. They are tropical plants and don't like cold weather!
Ana Miranda
Hello. I bought a small Angel trumpet and it has been growing steady. After i got it, i read about it being poisonous. Now i am scared to keep it. Could i have your opinion?please.....
meadowlark22
Please be careful,if you are considering planting Angel's Trumpets as they are extremely toxic. If you do a little research on Google, you will find many cases of emergency room visits. Do not let any plant part touch your skin. Do not plant where children or pets have access. Dispose of trimming in the garbage, not in compost.they can even contaminate nearby food crops, resulting in extreme illness and hallucinations. Very pretty, but very toxic to many.
TRENA HEINZ
What fertilizer is used and how often?
thanks, Trena
Bonnie Gholston
Trena, I wish I could tell you exactly "what" was in this tea of hers, but she keeps it a guarded secret. I do know she said she puts about 1-1/2 dozen different things in it. She has been perfecting this for many a year. She told me she adds on to the recipe as she feels it needs a little something more. She's made it into a systemic, covering many purposes for these Angels Trumpet beauties! I do know however, that you use it twice a week, all thru blooming season and not only do you spray it all over their leaves,, but side-water it also. It doesn't take a lot, but it takes being consistent. It's like nothing I have ever used, or read about before. I used some on one of my perennial flowers & it grew 13' tall!!!!!!
LaTina Shelby
I have one and it started out just a small Milan’s in a cup this year and it is now head high and blooming like crazy. I used miracle grow and epson salt on mine and it is absolutely beautiful. That is all I did to mine besides watering it about every two or three days.
Bonnie Gholston
Hi Jane & Leo, This Spring my best friend gave me 12 cuttings of Angel's Trumpets, they were about 1 ft. tall. I did exactly what she told me to do and now all 12 are about 7 ft tall. They are full of beautiful blooms and such large leaves and so very healthy. My friend gave me her "tea" mixture. It is her fertilizer she came up with. I applied with a sprayer to the leaves and also side-watered it into the ground with this "tea" twice a week. I have never had anything grow & look so fantastic as I have these Angels. This was my very 1st time with them. Thank you & Leo for showing me how to "winterize" my girls! I would hate to loose any of them by not doing the proper procedure. Bonnie in N.E. Mississippi (Zone 7)
Stephanie Thornton
Bonnie, do you have the "tea" recipe or hints as to what is in it? I have a few of these plants and love them.
Stephanie
Oxford, Ms.
Jerrjasp
Would you be willing to share the reside for the tea mixture for the Angel Trumpet
Will not give to anyone else
Thank you so so much
Jane Windham
I don't have the tea recipe but perhaps the person who left that comment will see your question and respond.
Ila Valentine
what was the tea mixture?
Jane Windham
I have no idea about the tea mixture. Another reader left that comment but I wish she'd come back and give us all the recipe!
Bee
I don't know what the tea mixture is but I used Perfect Blend Mix from Spray-N-Grow.com.
Just go by the directions. Sprayed the leaves on everything in my flower garden and veggies once a week and gave my trumpets Miracle Gro at the ground once a week.
I had hundreds of blooms on my trumpet.
nini
I order two AT got them few week ago they are in big pots, they don't seem to be growing fast . they are only about five inches tall , are they slow grower ? also do they normally Bloom the first year ? I'm just not sure about these yet , or what to do for them to help them grown , leave look good , just taking forever to grown. seem like the same size when i order them from Michangan bulbs.
Cindy
My sister gave me an Angel's Trumpet years ago and I LOVE it! Never dreamed it would get sooo big...what a beauty!
Jordan@the2seasons
It was fun to read this post. I was not familiar with this plant and I love the look. I have now started googling it to read more about it!
Vickie
I love angel trumpets, though mine did not do as well this year-too dry I think. I have had real good luck with my sweet potato vines coming back the next year. It is usually May before they sprout back up.
Dolly
They sure were beautiful!
Susan in SC
I love Angel’s Trumpets! I had one for several seasons but it died. I didn't have it in a good place to start. I want to buy some new ones this spring. I have enjoyed looking at pictures of your and Leo's garden!
Pam
Your potato vines are huge. I always hate to see mine go, but I just buy more next year. It's too cold here to over winter them.
Jane
This is really interesting...I never knew you cut this plant down to the ground. I had trumpet vines before, we are in Zone 5, and I didn't do anything with them, I guess the vines are different. How nice that you will have new starts with the cuttings. They really have a beautiful flower!!
Yes, I think winter is very close!! Have a great weekend!
XO,
Jane
Ginger
Jane, These are beautiful. We have one plant but it didn't bloom this year. Our neighbor who usually has beautiful AT's, didn't have any blooms either this year. We had a terribly dry year. We watered faithfully but I guess it was not enough. It is looking better now but no blooms. What combo fertilizer did you use? #s I mean. I didn't say that correctly, I know. I did read where the fertilizer I used was producing too much foliage. Love to know your kind. I think I will cut some off the plant for rooting.
Yours are awesome. Have a great weekend, Ginger
Jean Windham
Jane the Angel's Trumpets are beautiful and I am sure they really make a show along the fence. It is also good they are easy to root. Sorry I missed seeing them before they were cut back for the winter. Hope to see you soon.
Peggy
I am in Ontario Canada all the flowers and plants have gone to bed
Thanks for the show have a great week end we may have a little snow
Kat Griffin
great post...I love flowers and gardens too I failed at mine this summer. but next spring i will be ready for a better one. my morning glory vines come back every summer from absolutely frozen over the winter it amazes me that they can come back such a delicate flower like a morning glory. these I have never seen before love the name "Trumpet Angel !"
Veronica
So happy to find someone else who does garden posts! I see just how spoilt we are over here in Cape Town where everything is just left out for winter! I have a number of Angel Trumpets and I love the pink one the most. I did a post on it as well, so beautiful. Glad to find you!
Veronica
Jen
Beautiful! I have never seen them before!!!
Tracy
I have not seen these before, I guess I'm too far north for them to survive. They are so pretty, and so BIG! Your sweet potato vines are magnificent, mine were pretty scrawny this year, and they died off a few weeks ago.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and have a great weekend!
Michelle
I love angelstrumpet, they are beautiful and they let off a beautiful smell. I have one thats in a pot, I'm terrified to plant it because I don't want it to die. Im in southern california so Im not sure if what zone I'm in. Thanks for sharing your beauitful flowers.
Pat
Wow! I've not ever seen a Angel's Trumpet before. Kinda looks like a squash,huh?
I hope it winters well. Can't wait to see how you 'wake it up' after putting it to bed. {smile}
Your garden looks so pretty. Love the fence row and the sweet potato vine (that one looks easy to grow too!) I'm also in zone 8...so I'm looking for things to plant, but they'd have to be drought hardy obviously.
take care! Pat
dawn
Beautiful plant, I have never heard of it. Winter hit here in full force to day, we had blizzard like conditions, snow everywhere.
Babs
Your Angel Trumpets are beautiful and I hope they survive the winter. Have a great weekend.