Flowering plant ID question

[Darren Garrison]

Last summer I happened to drive past a yard that had a bushy plant with really large, dangling flowers covering it. I didn't get a really close look, but I've wanted to get one of them ever since. Since spring is on the way, I've been trying to key-word search google and ebay to find what the plant is. So far, I've found that it looks really similar to a "Brugmansia" variety, but I see that Brugmansia isn't hardy to my zone, 7b (in upper South Carolina). Is there a plant similar to Brugmansia that handles zone 7 it could have been, or can some Brugmansia survive zone 7 winters?

[WiGard]

Datura is another. It seems one has the flowers more pendant than the other.

It grows easily from seed and should do quite well in zone 7. We're in zone 4/5 and my plants were colorful, fragrant and nearly 5' by frost. Some dig up the plants, pot them and store them over winter.

I believe it is a tropical. What you saw most likely is being grown as an annual.

[Ricky]

Is there a plant similar to Brugmansia that

Same plant. Datura is the common name and was the genus for a while. But Datura is now Brugmansia spp.

[WiGard]

Brugmansia is has pendant blooms and the Datura blooms are upright or erect.

[WiGard]

but similar plants, both belonging to the nightshade family.

[Ricky]

Interesting. Datura is sold as Brugmansia by everyone in S. Florida.

[Darren Garrison]

Thanks for the info, I've already ordered three potted cuttings. I was a little bit concerned about the poisonous aspect seeing that I have cats, but I decided that, since they have always been around other poisonous plants outside-- elephant ears, azelias (sp?), tomatoes, even some wild polkberry-- and haven't eaten those, they'll probably leave these alone, too.

[LanscpHort]

really large, dangling

get one of them ever

google and ebay to find what

"Brugmansia" variety, but I see

there a plant similar to

survive zone 7 winters?

take pics at distance, providing scale, and of details, and post it on one of the "id this" or "what is this" plant sites.