Datura

Datura
A genus or perennials that are closely related to the woody Brugmansia. They prefer full sun and fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil. They make great container plants as long as they are kept well watered.
Pharmacology: all parts of these plants are poisonous to ingest. Do not plant these where they may be ingested by children or pets.

Datura inoxia ( Angel's Trumpet )
An annual or short-lived perennial ( zone 9+ only ), reaching up to 5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet in height, that is native to the southwestern U.S., Mexico and South America.
The wavy-edged, broadly-ovate leaves are up to 10 x 4 inches in size. The foliage is blue-green.
The hanging flowers, up to 8 x 5 inches in size, can be white, lavender or pink. They usually appear late summer into mid-autumn.
Hardy to 18 F as a perennial.

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

Datura metal ( Hindu Datura )
An annual, reaching up to 6 x 4 ( rarely over 5 ) feet in height. The growing tips should be pinched occasionally to encourage a denser habit.
The leaves are up to 8 inches in length.
The flowers are up to 7 inches in length, They can either be purple-tinged white, white or yellow.
Hardy zones 9a +

* photo taken on Aug 25 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photos taken on July 15 2017 in Parkton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

Datura stramonium ( Jimsonweed )
An annual, reaching up to 5 feet in height, that is native to roadsides and old fields over much of southern Canada and the U.S. ( from Vancouver, B.C. to extreme southeast B.C. to north-central Montana to Wiarton, Ontario to Parry Sound, Ontario to Quebec City to Nova Scotia and south ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was abundant along the Canard River Valley, the Ohio lakeshore as well as at Detroit during the 1800s.
The coarsely-toothed, ovate leaves are up to 8 x 4.5 inches in size.
The fragrant, white to violet flowers, up to 5 inches in length, are borne during mid-summer into mid-autumn.
They are followed by oval capsules up to 2 inches in length.
Pharmacology: Poisonous to consume..known to cause hallucinations but can also cause extreme thirst, coma and death.

* photo taken on July 23 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 11 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 18 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 26 2021 in Columbia, MD

* historic archive photo