Purple Datura – Devil’s Trumpet or Jimson Weed
Image Credit: Wikipedia

Today, I am battling a toxic nuisance in my garden — my Purple Datura Plant.

I am also buffeting myself for my mistake in having allowed this guy to grow to become the large shrubby problem that he has become. You see, I love the flowers of my purple datura. Light violet is one of my favorite garden flower colors. The violet is an excellent complement to my pink roses and my yellow sunflowers. I simply let my plant go–resolving to deal with its potential problems later.

Thorny Dried Devil’s Trumpet Seed Pods in the Garden of Jacki Kellum

As you see in the above photo, my purple datura has evolved into the thorny beast that it was destined to become.

But as the pods began to dry, I could no longer overlook its nasty Audrey 2–Feed Me — Monster Within.

Audrey 2 – Plant from Little Shop of Horrors

Purple Datura Seed Pod

But the thorniness of this plant is the least of this guy’s problems. Purple Datura is horrendously toxic.

Angel’s Trumpet
Image Credit: Wikipedia

Purple Datura’s Cousin the Angel’s Trumpet is also toxic. But many people elect to grow Angel’s Trumpet in their gardens. I have also considered growing it in my garden. I think that is why I allowed my Devil’s Trumpet to survive. But a few day’s ago, I discovered that purple datura is toxic to birds and other wildlife. That was the clincher for me. Taking care of my birds is one of my main reasons for gardening. I determined not to allow anything to grow that would hurt my birds:

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