Family: Nightshade (Solanacea)

Annual. 70 days to maturity.

(Mranaha, Datura fastuosa, Datura metel) This is an old world datura that was collected on the island of Unguja in the Zanzibar archipelago.  The identification of the fastuosa species is made easier by the fact that the stems are dark, intense purple and the pods are warty, purple and not particularly spiny (it might not be so appropriate to call this species a “thornapple” since it boasts only blunt thorns).  Traditional usage: indigenous people in Zanzibar and East Africa claim that the seeds and/or flowers are brewed in with local beer in order to make it more potent, but this may be an understatement, as datura has the capacity to produce a catatonic state, and should never be ingested.  The flowers are showy, purple-tinged chalices that tend to face straight skyward. They emit a pleasantly narcotic perfume. Plant prefers fast draining soil, little water and full sun.  Sow in spring, directly in the garden or in gallon pots.  I’ve seen a pot watered daily with no results and then left to dry out whereupon the seeds germinate all at once.  Datura seeds are also stimulated by GA3, so it makes sense to use live (unsterilized) potting soil.  This will give good results.  Space plants 2 feet apart.

10 seeds/pkt, Certified Organically Grown