One of the most popular ways to decorate your yard is with a bountiful variety of colorful flowers. Flowers not only make the landscape look nice, but they also help the ecosystem and bring in animals like birds and pollinators that do important work. One popular flower shape to plant in your yard is trumpet-shaped flowers. Theres a variety of species and colors of trumpet-shaped flowers to fit in almost any garden.
You may be familiar with amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp. ) during the holidays, but gardeners and landscapers in tropical and subtropical areas also like them. Besides their beautiful color and trumpetlike shape, theyre a hardy flower that doesnt require constant attention. Flowers often come in red, bright pink, and orange, but you can also find them in pink and white shades. The amaryllis should be planted in a lightly shaded space, not in direct sunlight.
Trumpet shaped flowers are some of the most stunning blooms you can add to your garden Their unique shape resembles musical instruments, which gives them an elegant and almost regal appearance White trumpet flowers stand out beautifully against green foliage, adding a touch of class and simplicity. If you’re looking to incorporate this type of flower into your landscape, there are several shrub options that produce these distinctive white blooms.
Angel’s Trumpet
One of the most popular shrubs with white trumpet shaped flowers is angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia species). This tropical plant is easy to grow in frost-free climates, where it can reach heights of 10-15 feet. During summer and fall, it bears enormous flowers up to 12 inches long that dangle from the branches like trumpets. The blooms are usually white or cream colored.
Angel’s trumpet prefers rich soil, frequent watering, and bright indirect light. Give it plenty of room to spread out. Because of its large size, angel’s trumpet is ideal for the back of borders or as a specimen planting. It also looks beautiful in large containers on patios and decks. The flowers release a lovely, sweet fragrance in the evenings that perfumes the garden.
While stunning, angel’s trumpet is highly toxic and should be planted with caution if you have curious kids or pets around. It also requires overwintering indoors in colder climates. For gardeners in zone 9 and up, however, this is a wonderful shrub that lends a tropical flair.
Crossvine
Native to the southeastern United States, crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) is another candidate for white trumpet shaped flowers It blooms in late winter and early spring, bearing tubular white flowers with purple throats. The blooms have a distinct trumpet shape and curve gently downward off the vine
Crossvine is a clinging woody vine that can be grown on arbors, trellises, and fences. It climbs using tendrils and can reach lengths of up to 50 feet. The foliage is semi-evergreen in warmer areas. Crossvine does well in full sun to partial shade and requires little care once established. It’s resistant to pests and deer usually leave it alone.
In addition to its showy spring flowers, crossvine provides interest with its reddish bark and unique seed pods. Hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar-rich blooms. Plant crossvine on a trellis or archway near a deck or patio so you can fully enjoy its flowers and ambiance. It also looks lovely rambling over an old fence or garden gate.
Valerian
Though not technically a shrub valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial plant that produces clusters of small, white, trumpet shaped flowers on spikes reaching 3-4 feet tall. Its blooms have an adorable trumpet form with flared funnel-shaped ends. The flowers appear from late spring through summer and carry a fresh, floral scent.
Valerian does best in full sun to part shade and average, well-drained soil. It prefers consistent moisture but is fairly drought tolerant once established. The fern-like foliage provides lovely texture and backdrop to the dainty white blooms. Plant valerian towards the back of flower beds and borders or use it as part of a wildflower meadow. It also looks beautiful alongside ponds and streams.
In addition to being ornamental, valerian has a long history of use as an herbal sedative. However, some people find the scent unpleasant. Butterflies love visiting the blooms for nectar. Valerian spreads readily by both seed and rhizomes, so take care when planting it around less vigorous plants.
Moonflower
For stunning white blooms in the evening, consider planting moonflower (Ipomoea alba). This fast growing annual vine opens huge, trumpet shaped flowers at dusk that unfurl a delicious, sweet fragrance. The blooms measure up to 6 inches across and remain open until touched by the morning sun. They are pure white and absolutely beautiful.
Give moonflower a sturdy support like a trellis or chain link fence to climb. It can reach heights of 15-25 feet over the course of a summer. Moonflower thrives in hot, humid conditions and should be planted after the last frost once night temperatures remain above 50°F. Site it in full sun for the largest number of blooms.
In addition to lighting up gardens after dark, moonflower attracts night pollinators like moths and bats. Its large blooms and quick growth make it ideal for covering unsightly structures and creating summer garden focal points. Try interplanting moonflower with Moonflower is a wonderful choice for white trumpet flowers that come alive as the sun goes down.
Brugmansia
I mentioned angel’s trumpet previously, but wanted to highlight the Brugmansia genus specifically. This group of shrubs contains around 20 species that are native to South America. In addition to the popular white flowering types, Brugmansia selections produce blooms in shades of orange, yellow, pink, peach, and red.
All share the large, downward hanging trumpet flowers that give the plant its common name. Brugmansia can reach heights between 5-15 feet depending on the variety. Most prefer full sun and rich, moist soil. Regular feeding and watering during the growing season encourages the most prolific flowering. Pinching out the stem tips promotes bushier growth.
Brugmansia offers endless options for unique, trumpet-shaped blooms. ‘Charles Grimaldis’ has huge creamy white double flowers, while ‘Frosty Pink’ bears abundant soft pink blooms with yellow throats. For bicolored blooms, try ‘Inca Gold’ which has pale yellow flowers edged in crimson. Site Brugmansia near seating areas so you can fully appreciate the stunning flowers.
Angel’s Tears
If you like the look of weeping blooms, check out angel’s tears (Brugmansia x candida). This hybrid Brugmansia cultivar produces masses of large, pendulous white flowers that dangle a foot or more below the branches. It has an open, spreading form that exhibits the flowers beautifully.
Angel’s tears does best in zones 9-11 where it can be grown outside year round. Provide sun to light shade and rich soil. To encourage even more blooms, pinch back the tips of each branch when the plant is 1-2 feet tall. This shrub flowers almost continuously once established. The flowers have a subtle lemony scent.
Situate angel’s tears where its waterfall of blooms can be admired up close. Plant it next to a deck or patio or use as a focal point in beds and borders. The cascading white flowers look gorgeous illuminated at night, so place it where it can be enjoyed after dark. Just take care to site it away from high traffic areas since the branches are brittle.
Trumpet Vine
If you want vigorous growth and abundant flowers, trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a great option. This woody vine can grow up to 40 feet tall and produces clusters of vivid orange-red, trumpet shaped blooms. While not normally white, a cultivar called ‘Madame Galen’ offers gorgeous white flowers with just a hint of pale apricot in the throat.
Trumpet vine blooms on new wood from mid to late summer. It needs full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant. Make sure you provide sturdy support like a trellis, pergola, or fence since trumpet vine climbs rapidly using aerial rootlets. It can get heavy over time so choose a location that won’t overwhelm its support. Prune as needed to control size and shape.
In addition to its beautiful flowers, trumpet vine attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Site it where you can admire the abundant blooms and visiting pollinators. Use it to create vertical interest against a bare wall or cover unsightly structures like sheds. Just be aware that trumpet vine can be invasive in some areas and requires regular pruning to keep it in bounds.
Datura
One more option for stunning white trumpet blooms is Datura, also known as moonflower. These fast growing annuals produce huge, trumpet shaped flowers from summer through fall that open fully at night. Blooms can exceed 6 inches long on plants reaching 5 feet tall. Common varieties like D. inoxia have upward facing flowers while D. metel has blooms that nod gracefully downward.
Datura needs full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Give it plenty of space to grow since plants become very bushy. The large flowers dangle alluringly from thick stems and branches, eventually giving way to prickly seed pods. Moonflower also has attractive grayish foliage that provides the perfect backdrop for those luminous white blooms.
Site Datura where you can appreciate the flowers at night—along walkways, near patios and decks, or incorporated into mixed borders. The blooms release their scent in evening hours, attracting pollinating moths. Just take care when handling this plant since the leaves and seeds are poisonous. With its statuesque form and intoxicating scent, Datura makes a mystical addition to moon gardens.
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Angel’s Trumpet
Angels trumpet (Brugmansia spp. ) is a perennial plant that originated in South America. Angels trumpet blooms in the summer and can handle a small amount of frost. It does best when planted in indirect sunlight with lots of space to grow. This plant requires lots of attention and frequent fertilization. Though it is resistant to deer and its fragrance attracts pollinating moths, its highly toxic. The leaves, flowers, and seeds are poisonous to humans if eaten in high quantities. The plants leaves are often an oval shape, and the flower colors include gold, yellow, pink, and white.
Easter Lily
The Easter lily (Lilium wallichianum) is a large, trumpet-shaped flower often seen in spring. Many Easter lilies are sold in pots for indoor use, but they can also be planted outside when the weather warms up. Easter lilies prefer bright but indirect sunlight and do best with temperatures between 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Animals can get very sick from these flowers, even though they are pretty and smell great. Keep them away from your cats.
If you want to grow moonflower or moonvine (Ipomoea alba), you need to do it on a fence, trellis, or tree every year. Its beautiful white trumpetlike flowers open at night and exude a beautifully sweet fragrance. Both moths and bees are attracted to the moonflower, making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Moonflower has a long bloom season that lasts from summer to spring and doesn’t need much care. This vine prefers warm weather and tends to flourish and grow quickly in a hot, wet environment.
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