How to Grow Trumpet King
Trumpet King
Brugmansia × candida 'Trumpet King'
shrubTrumpet King is a spectacular flowering shrub known for its massive, pendulous trumpet-shaped flowers that can reach 10-12 inches long. The blooms are typically white or pale yellow with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance, especially in the evening. This plant grows as a woody shrub to small tree and produces continuous flowers throughout warm seasons.
When should you plant Trumpet King in your zone?
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Example Trumpet King timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Trumpet King
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Trumpet King
Around Sep 14≈ 150 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Trumpet King dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 9b-11; grow in containers and overwinter indoors in cooler regions
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Seedling/Young Plant
4-8 weeksSmall plant with soft green stems and oval leaves, no blooms yet
Keep in warm conditions (65-75°F), provide bright indirect light, maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging, protect from strong wind
Vegetative Growth
8-16 weeksRapidly expanding shrub with large, soft, velvety leaves and increasing stem thickness; woody growth beginning
Fertilize bi-weekly with balanced fertilizer, prune to encourage bushier shape, provide sturdy support as plant grows, maintain humidity
Bud Formation
3-4 weeksLarge elongated buds appear at branch tips, initially green and tightly closed
Switch to higher phosphorus fertilizer to support flowering, continue regular watering, maintain warm temperatures (70°F+), ensure adequate light
Flowering
Several months (continuous in ideal conditions)Spectacular trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl to 10-12 inches, fragrant in evening, flowers appear continuously in warm weather
Maintain consistent watering and feeding, deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms, support heavy flower-laden branches, protect from frost
Winter Dormancy
2-4 monthsGrowth slows, foliage may drop in cooler zones, flowering stops or greatly reduces
Reduce watering significantly, move indoors to frost-free location in zones below 9b, minimal fertilizing, prune if desired in late winter
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity, spray with water to knock off mites, use neem oil or miticide if severe, improve air circulation
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Yellow sticky traps, strong water spray, neem oil spray weekly, insecticidal soap
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Inspect regularly for cottony clusters, isolate infected plants, remove with cotton swab dipped in alcohol, treat with neem oil
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Prune heavily infested branches, treat with horticultural oil or neem oil, remove manually with soft brush
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Strong spray of water, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage natural predators like ladybugs
Uses
Dramatic Evening Fragrance
HouseholdTrumpet King flowers release an intensely sweet, intoxicating perfume in evening hours, making it ideal for patios, gardens, and areas where evening enjoyment is planned. The fragrance can fill a large garden space. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
CraftThe spectacular trumpet flowers can be cut for floral arrangements, though they have a short vase life of 1-2 days. They make stunning statement pieces in large arrangements. [source]
Pollinator Attraction
WildlifeThe large fragrant flowers attract night-flying moths and other pollinators. This plant is particularly valuable for moth and hummingbird gardens during evening hours. [source]
Ornamental Specimen Plant
HouseholdWith its large velvety foliage and massive flowers, Trumpet King serves as a stunning focal point in tropical and subtropical gardens. Container cultivation allows gardeners in colder zones to enjoy this plant. [source]
Garden Edging & Background Interest
CulinaryWhile not edible, this plant's height and dramatic appearance make it excellent for garden backgrounds and creating vertical interest in landscape design. [source]
Harvest Tips
This plant is grown for ornamental flowers and foliage, not for harvest. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Prune in late winter or early spring to shape and remove dead wood. Collect seed pods if desired to propagate new plants, but note that seeds may not produce identical plants due to hybridization.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Trumpet King flowers can produce up to 100+ blooms per season under ideal conditions, with some flowers measuring over 12 inches long—among the largest flowers of any ornamental plant.
- 🌱 All parts of Brugmansia plants contain tropane alkaloids (scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine) and are highly toxic if ingested, yet the flowers are spectacular to grow and admire.
- 🌱 The flower buds dangle downward on flexible stems, opening in the evening and releasing their fragrance throughout the night—the plant has evolved this pattern to attract nocturnal moth pollinators.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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