Brugmansia sanguinea [broog-MAN-zee-ah, san-GWIN-ee-a], is a flowering shrub native to the Andes mountains in South America.
For centuries, South American shamans have used the Angel Trumpet plant for various rituals and healing techniques.
It’s part of the Solanaceae family of plants, known as the nightshades, and has a high level of toxicity.
The shrub may grow to the size of a small tree, reaching up to 32′ feet and featuring trumpet-shaped flowers.
Available in shades of bright orange, yellow, green, and red, people commonly call the plant Red Angel’s Trumpet.
The robust shrub is easy to care for but includes a few specific requirements.
Brugmansia Sanguinea Care
Size and Growth
Brugmansia sanguinea is a woody plant producing large, soft leaves. It may reach up to 32’ feet in height when planted outdoors.
Indoors, it may reach a few feet but requires grooming. While the plant can easily become a large shrub, grooming helps keep the size more manageable.
Flowering and Fragrance
Some varieties are late bloomers, with flowers appearing in late summer or early fall. Brugmansia sanguinea often blooms in spring.
The plant produces tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers hanging like pendants from the branches.
The flowers come in various shades, including green, yellow, and orange, but red remains the most popular variety.
The sanguina flowers also have no real scent or a faint scent.
Light and Temperature
Give the plant full sun to partial shade.
It grows well in almost any setting if the temperature remains within a suitable range.
For outdoor growth, the plant is only hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11.
Bring it indoors for the winter in cooler regions.
It cannot survive temperatures below 45° – 50° degrees Fahrenheit (7° – 10° C), but keeping it in a cooler spot during the winter encourages a healthier bloom.
Watering and Feeding
Brugmansia sanguinea drinks up the water, especially during the summer.
Water and feed the plant regularly with liquid food throughout the warmer months.
In the winter, growth slows dramatically.
Water the plant sparingly and don’t feed until the following spring.
Soil and Transplanting
Use quality potting soil with a pot providing enough space for the root system and supports to keep from tipping over.
Repot every year in the spring to refresh the soil and provide the plant with more nutrients.
After repotting, lightly water the plant and gradually increase watering over the coming weeks.
Resume feeding the plant about 14 days after transplanting.
Annual pruning helps keep the size of the plant more manageable.
As mentioned, it may reach up to 32’ feet when planted in the ground.
In a container, it can still reach several meters very quickly.
Trim the stems back up to halfway.
Trimming the stems back too far may harm the plant and stunt development for several years.
The best time to trim is just before or after winter when its growth is slower compared to the warmer months.
TIP: To make overwintering easier and encourage fuller blooms, maintain a height of 10” – 12” inches when trimming the plant back.
You may also like the Brugmansia cousin –> Steptosolen jamesonii (Marmalade Bush)
How to Propagate Brugmansia Sanguinea?
Propagate Brugmansia sanguinea using stem or tip cuttings.
To take tip cuttings, trim the leader below the upper growth of leaves and above the next set of branches.
To take stem cuttings, trim a branch near the main stem, ensuring the branch contains at least two sets of leaves.
It’s easier to take these cuttings when pruning the plant back at the end of winter.
After taking the cuttings, dip the cut tips into rootone rooting hormone and plant in propagating trays or small pots.
Keep in a bright spot and cover with plastic.
Wait for the plants to take root before transplanting them to new containers or the garden.
The young plants should be ready for their new homes by early spring and may still produce flowers in the summer.
Brugmansia Sanguinea Main Pests Or Disease Problems
Look out for spider mites, slugs, and snails. Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) for control.
Details on Diatomaceou