8 Backyard Plants That Smell Better At Night

Tip #5: Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia)

For a truly dramatic focal point in your evening landscape, nothing commands attention quite like the exotic Angel’s Trumpet. This small tree or large shrub produces enormous, pendulous, trumpet-shaped flowers that frequently reach ten to twelve inches in length.

While they appear majestic during the day, their true magic reveals itself after dark when the massive blooms begin to emit a heavy, narcotic, lily-like fragrance that saturates the heavy summer air. The flowers bloom in flushes throughout the growing season, dropping gracefully in shades of white, peach, pink, or yellow.

To achieve the most spectacular floral displays, you need to treat your Angel’s Trumpet as a heavy feeder and a thirsty drinker. Plant it in rich, loamy soil and apply a water-soluble, bloom-boosting fertilizer once a week from late spring through late summer.

It thrives in full sun but appreciates a bit of dappled afternoon shade in locations with scorching summer heat. In tropical zones, these plants grow into permanent woody shrubs, but northern gardeners must plant them in large containers and overwinter them in a frost-free garage or basement.

When cultivating this botanical showstopper, you must exercise caution—every single part of the Angel’s Trumpet contains powerful tropane alkaloids, making it highly toxic if ingested. Position your container strategically away from play areas used by children or household pets.