Plant encyclopedia›thorn apple

thorn apple

Also known as: apple of Peru; devil's apple; devil's ladder; devil's trumpet; dewtry; fireweed; gypsum weed; gypsy weed; Jamestown lily; Jamestown weed; Jimson weed; loco weed; mad apple; stinkweed

A symmetrically branched annual, found in garden borders, on roadsides and on wasteland, with large, coarsely toothed, oval green leaves. White, trumpet-shaped flowers, sometimes flushed purple appear in July to October are followed by spiny fruit up to 5cm long

Scientific classification

Species: thorn apple (Datura stramonium)
Genus: Datura
Family: Solanaceae

TOXIC if eaten, skin irritant, avoid eye contact. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Toxicity: Annual Biennial
Plant type: 0.5-1 metres
Height: 0.5-1 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Bushy
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn
Season of interest: Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

thorn apple pictures

Distribution of thorn apple

Distribution map

Cosmopolitan

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

TOXIC if eaten, skin irritant, avoid eye contact. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

Quick identification of thorn apple

Information to be completed

thorn apple care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

No pruning required

Propagation

Prefers warmer climates, but seeds can germinate well in situ in spring and retain their viability when buried within the soil, germinating when disturbed with the potential to become a nuisance

Growing

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun. Can be used for summer bedding and is not invasive within the UK. See thorn apple for further advice

More growing and care information →