Datura innoxia - seeds

All parts of this plant are toxic, including the seeds, even at low doses. It contains tropane alkaloids whose effects are serious and can be fatal.

• Never ingest, in any form or at any dose
• Do not smoke, inhale, or prepare as an infusion or decoction
• Handle the seeds with gloves and wash your hands afterwards
• Keep out of reach of children and pets
• Do not plant near a vegetable garden, a sandpit or a play area
• In case of accidental ingestion, immediately call 15 (French emergency services) or a poison control centre

Sale restricted to adults (18 and over).

A packet of Datura innoxia seeds, with a choice of 20, 70 or 700 seeds. They are flat, kidney-shaped, light beige, and larger than those of thorn apple.

Sow in spring, in warmth. Soaking for 24 hours in lukewarm water noticeably speeds up germination in this species, which has a thick seed coat. Sow 5 mm deep at 22 to 25 °C, in free-draining compost. Allow one to three weeks.

Prick out into small pots, then plant out after the last frosts, in full sun, in free-draining and fairly rich soil, 80 cm apart. It needs space and warmth: once it gets going, this plant quickly bulks up.

A bush 60 cm to 1.20 m wide, with entire or slightly wavy foliage, grey-green and covered in soft down, which immediately sets it apart from the smooth, toothed foliage of thorn apple. The flowers, upright then slightly drooping, are long white trumpets that can reach 15 to 20 cm, which open at dusk and are strongly fragrant at night: they are pollinated by hawk moths. The fruits are hanging, rounded capsules covered in many soft spines.

Perennial in its native range, it is killed by frost here and is grown as an annual. In a pot brought in frost-free, a rootstock can regrow the following year and produce a stronger plant.

These seeds are sold as ornamental and botanical collector's seeds. They are not intended for any consumption or preparation use. We provide no dosage, no preparation method and no expected effect.

Why this name, if the plant is toxic?
Because the botanist who described it was comparing it with other daturas, not because he considered it harmless. The name stuck and keeps alive a confusion that needs clearing up: it is as toxic as thorn apple.

What is the difference from thorn apple, Datura stramonium?
Downy grey foliage versus smooth, toothed foliage, much longer flowers, soft spines versus rigid spines. Datura stramonium is also earlier and hardier.

And from Brugmansia?
Brugmansia, or angel's trumpet, is a woody shrub with distinctly hanging flowers. Datura is herbaceous and lower, with upright or slanting flowers, and bears spiny capsules instead of smooth fruits.

Is the night-time scent a risk?
No, smelling a flower's scent in the garden is not dangerous. The risk is ingestion, especially of the seeds.

Also worth exploring: Datura stramonium and our other folklore plants.