Nighttime is datura time
On a recent evening I followed the fragrance of lemon Pledge to find my datura (Datura wrightii) practically howling at the moon. I counted at least 20 flowers, each as big across as my outstretched hand.
The fragrant flowers of this native Texas plant open at dusk and close in the morning, blooming for just one night.
But over the course of the summer, it pumps out a lot of dessert-plate-sized flowers. Two nights later I counted another 24 blossoms. Bring on the Georgia O’Keeffe gorgeousness!
And let me just take a moment to appreciate our landscape lighting while I’m out here. I love the tree shadows on the driveway, courtesy of downlights placed high in the live oak canopy — almost as if cast by moonlight. (We hired NightScenes to do that for us a couple of years ago, and what a difference it made.)
Datura and good lighting make nighttime the right time in the garden.
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Digging Deeper
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All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Have grown Datura from seed (an annual here) and have revelled in it’s gorgeous scent too. Not nearly as many blooms as yours though. I love the spiny seed pods too. Very alien looking.
The seed pods are kinda cool looking!
Very pretty!
It’s a beauty, all right. 🙂
I’ve never grown Datura and, flower freak that I am, I should remedy that omission. You nighttime lighting is perfect. Ours, introduced by a prior owner, is seriously in need of adjustment.
Kris, it’s an interesting plant to grow. And an easy one. I hope you’ll give it a try.