A highly poisonous plant. It causes hallucinations and impaired consciousness. Poles plant it in gardens and on balconies.

• Datura, or jimsonweed, is one of the most toxic plants in the world. It is also known as angel's trumpet.
• Datura seeds contain potent tropane alkaloids: atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These substances cause euphoria, visual and auditory hallucinations, and impaired consciousness.
• Just consuming 20–30 seeds can cause severe poisoning. Symptoms usually appear after a few hours and can last for several days.

Datura is a plant found in many gardens and on balconies. It delights with its large flowers and intense fragrance, but its beauty hides a serious danger.

Many people grow datura in their gardens, on balconies, or terraces. I had one myself. The problem turned out to be not its toxicity, but its enormous water requirement—daturas drink literally buckets of water daily. But as it turns out, this beautiful plant also has a much darker side.

Datura in the garden is an unusual decoration and a silent danger

Datura's flowers can reach up to half a meter in length and emit an intense fragrance from afar. Its dark green leaves and stately shrubs make it a popular decorative feature in home gardens.

The plant is native to Mexico but has become established in many regions of Europe, including Poland. It occurs as an annual or perennial, and can bloom several times a year.

However, beneath this beauty lies a profound danger. Datura, or jimsonweed, is one of the most toxic plants in the world.

A drug straight from the garden

Datura seeds contain potent tropane alkaloids: atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These substances cause euphoria, visual and auditory hallucinations, and impaired consciousness. They act on the nervous system, paralyzing nerve endings and affecting the heart and respiratory system.

Just consuming 20–30 seeds can cause severe poisoning. Symptoms usually appear after a few hours and can persist for several days. In extreme cases, they can result in coma or even death.

The symptoms of datura poisoning are dangerous and insidious.

The first symptoms of exposure to datura toxins include agitation, dilated pupils, and speechlessness. Over time, imbalance, severe disorientation, and then hallucinations and anxiety develop. Rapid heart rate, difficulty urinating, vomiting, and constipation may also occur.

In severe cases, the poisoned person loses touch with reality, has convulsions, and their respiratory system begins to fail.

Treatment must always be performed in a hospital setting. Gastric lavage and the administration of the antidote physostigmine are essential. Any suspicion of datura poisoning should be treated as a life-threatening condition.

What does datura look like and where does it grow?

The plant is easily recognized by its large, funnel-shaped flowers, which can be white, yellow, or purple. Datura blooms profusely, sometimes even several times a season. Its bushes reach impressive sizes, and its leaves are wide, slightly oval, and dark green.

Datura loves warmth and sun, but it doesn't tolerate frost. Perennial varieties require moving to a cool room for the winter.

The plant is also very sensitive to water deprivation – an adult datura can drink up to 15 liters a day! It also requires regular fertilization, and without it, it quickly loses its leaves and stops flowering.

Datura - beautiful, but requires caution

Datura looks stunning in gardens, especially in large containers on terraces and balconies. Its flowers can be a spectacular addition to any space, but there's no room for error when growing this plant.

Due to the toxicity of every part, from the leaves to the flowers and seeds, it should be kept away from children and pets. The plant should be kept securely, and contact with it should be minimized. Wear gloves when handling the plant, and wash your hands thoroughly after touching it. Remember that even accidental ingestion can have serious health consequences.

Datura in medicine and beliefs

Although datura today evokes associations with danger, it has been used in folk and traditional medicine for centuries. In India, it was used as a painkiller and antispasmodic, in Nigeria as a poultice for insect bites, and in Turkey for stomach ailments and bronchitis.

Today, its active ingredients are used in medications for motion sickness, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Scientists are also investigating the potential anticancer effects of datura leaf extracts.

Still, this isn't a plant for amateurs. Growing datura requires knowledge, caution, and responsibility. Keep this in mind before you're tempted by its beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers!