Jimson Weed. Datura wrightii, Potato Or Niteshade Family ( Solanaceae ), Jimson Weed. Also called Jimsonweed, Jimson Weed, Sacred Datura, Sacred Thorn Apple, Devil's Weed. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. A Dicot. This large, shrub-like, herbaceous perennial grows 3-4 ft. high & just as broad. Enormous, white, 8" trumpet flowers bloom in the evening, often lasting until the next morning. Very fragrant. A truly stunning plant! Blooms in summer. Tolerant of poor soil. Datura is a genus of narcotic plants, often called "toloache," that has been widely used by native tribes in the Southwest and Mexico, in Central America, and in western South America. Jimson weed contains substances such as atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine which interfere with one of the chemical messengers (acetylcholine) in the brain and nerves. WARNING!! All parts of Datura are toxic! Do not use it! Almost every year, someone tries it and ends up in the hospital or dead! In November of 1995, 5 idiots ended up in the hospital for several days. The Arizona Republic reported the case of the "brilliant" young men who tried chewing the seeds. They were all rushed to the hospital with symptoms which persisted in three of the victims for more than two days. Their intense hallucinations included the thoughts that bugs were crawling all over their bodies, that they were dead, and that their body parts were strewn all over the intensive care unit in which they were hospitalized. Most other animals, such as donkeys, horses, & cows are smart enough that they won't eat Datura! When will some people ever learn? Quick Notes: Height: Height to about 3 - 4 feet. Flowers: Tubular or trumpet shaped, White, 8" flowers tinged with lavender. They have a strong lemon-like scent. Flowers open at dusk and close by midmorning of the next day. They ripen to become sharp-prickly seed-pods. Flowering Time: March to November. Leaves: Dark gray - green, heart-shaped leaves which are covered by tiny smooth hairs. Seed Pod: Thorny, globose, walnut-sized 1-1/2 inches in diameter with many small, slender spines. Found: Native to the United States; in (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV), USA+ (PR, VI); and into Mexico, and into northern South America. Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 �C (-40 �F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 �C (-35 �F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 0 - 6,500 Feet. Habitat: Sandy washes and along roadsides. A landscape plant in some places. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken June 13, 2003 Near Hillside, Arizona.

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