julies

We visited the Casa de Pilates in Seville a couple of weeks ago. In the patio area we saw a beautiful blooming tree. It had huge (6 to 8") drooping yellow bell or trumpet type flowers hanging down. The tree's leaves were large and oval. Does anyone have any idea what type of tree this was? Thanks if you can help out my curiosity.

cigalechanta

If it was very fragrant, it could be Datura. Also grows in France but alas too cold for here in New England. Friends'of mine near giverny have a beautiful huge tree with those dazzling yellow fragrant 'trumpe"s

patg

They could also be Brugmansia, a close relative of Datura. Both are known as Angel's Trumpet. I found a picture for you at
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/brug/

cigalechanta

Thankas, pat, thats the botanical name for datura!

julies

I can't believe it. You people are a wealth of knowledge and knew exactly what I was talking about. I looked at the photo and I am sure this is the same thing (except the ones I saw were pure yellow rather than orange tinted) I saw. I had never seen the tree before since I live in Minneosta where obviously nothing like this grows. Thanks so much for the info.

cigalechanta

My friend's huge tree is yellow.

Lesli

I remember the first time I saw one of these trees, I said it looked like it belonged in a fairytale or Oz or something! I'll be looking for them in Sevilla....

cigalechanta

One more thing. They are poisonous.

cigalechanta

sorry accidently hit the post button, but other literature will tell you that it's an aphrodisiac and in my beatnik years Castelanas was the rage and Don Juan showed him how to use parts of Datura for curatve and hallucinary ways.

cigalechanta

wish I could edit..It's Carlos Castaneda.

viamar

I live on the central coast region of Calfornia (same Med climate) and Angel's Trumpet grows very well here. My neighbor's is 8ft. high. And yes they are toxic. Some teenagers made the news around here awhile back for getting sick after smoking one of the pods!