Brugmansia and Datura: Angel's Trumpets and Thorn Apples (Hardcover)

by Ulrike Preissel (Author), Hans-Georg Preissel (Author) "p..." (more)
Key Phrases: aurea hybrid, sanguinea hybrids, flowering region, Angel's Trumpets, Thorn Apples, South America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Unfamiliar and unorthodox, brugmansias and daturas are the floral opposites of the quaintly reassuring lilacs and pinks. Hothouse curiosities, angel's trumpets and thorn apples, respectively, were used by native cultures for their hallucinogenic and healing properties, anticipating modern medicine's use as antispasmodics. Under the expert tutelage of husband-and-wife authors Preissel, adventurous gardeners receive guidance on cultivating these alluring bell-shaped beauties for horticultural uses in sunrooms or outdoor containers. Carol Haggas
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Review
Clearly written for both professionals and amateurs, will become a standard in the literature on these plants. -- Adele Kleine, Current Books on Gardening and Botany (Chicago Botanic Garden) 06/2003

Packed into 144 pages are 110 photos and information about mythical perspectives and the realities of growing the plants. -- Fresno Bee 06/15/2002

Readable, profusely illustrated ... an excellent guide. -- Robert Howard, Hamilton Specator 12/12/2002

Shares the rich cultural and historic origins of these often confused plants. -- Kristin G. Pategas, Ornamental Outlook 02/2003

The book is a welcome guide to growers and collectors of angel's trumpets. -- John Bagnasco, Garden Compass, June 14, 2002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (March 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552095983
• ISBN-13: 978-1552095980
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,041,614 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 31, 2005

By	W. Oliver "scudder" (Alabama) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Brugmansia and Datura: Angel's Trumpets and Thorn Apples (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide for anyone growing brugmansia (angel's trumpets) or datura (thorn apples) either in containers or in the ground. The history and folklore of the plants are discussed with particular attention to their hallucinogenic and medicinal qualities (both plants are poisonous). Classification of the plants are illustrated in detailed charts that show flower shapes, fruits, measurements of flowers, and basically everything (and more) than you would ever need to know. Other chapters cover cultivation, propagation, building a collection, natural changes (in brugmansia) and diseases and pests. The accompanying color photographs are excellent with amble close-ups and many full plant shots. Highly recommended for anyone interested in these outstanding and exotic plants.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide for Growers of Angel Trumpets and Thorn Apples, March 5, 2006

By	David B Richman (Mesilla Park, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Brugmansia and Datura: Angel's Trumpets and Thorn Apples (Paperback)

I have liked Datura ever since I was a child and found a spectacular plant of Datura wrightii (sometimes synonymized with D. inoxia) growing in a pecan grove. The rolled up flower buds open in a fascinating way, in a spiral. In addition the white flowers open as evening comes on and produce an unbelievably strong fragrance. They are the epitome of a tropical flower.

However, if that is true of Datura, than it goes double for Brugmansia! I first saw a blooming plant in a back yard in San Francisco and then in the "wild" at the Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad. These are truly spectacular plants, even if all are poisonous (but then so are a number of our favorite garden plants like Narcissus and oleander!)

Ulrike and Hans-Georg Preissel have produced a beautiful guide to these wonderful flowers and their cultivation. In fact, the photographs are worth the price of the book alone. This is a great introduction to these exotic cousins of our garden Petunias. If you are at all interested in growing these remarkable tropical plants (which are not all that difficult), than this is your guide!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best about botany and gardening of these plants, April 26, 2004

By	Lotterleben (Old Europe) - See all my reviews

the preissel book is the most complete description of the two genus brugmansia (angel's trumpets) and datura (thorn apple) available today. the pictures are beautiful, the language understandable (you won't need a degree in botany to proceed).
they give keys to distinguish all the known species, and (with brugmansia) for the usual hybrids, and they give many hints for gardening.

in short: highly recommendable.

by the way, if you don't know what plants angel's trumpets are, try a web search for pictures - you'll be interested, I promise.