Sacred Datura

Datura wrightii

Found in disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 2–5 feet
Spread: 3–6 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to somewhat dry

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Datura wrightii — flower photograph — (c) tlaloc27, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: July to September
Fruiting season: September to October

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Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 3 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

11CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Datura

Agrius cingulataPink-Spotted Hawkmoth, Sweet Potatoe Caterpillar
Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
Emmelina monodactylaMorning-Glory Plume Moth
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Manduca quinquemaculatusFive-Spotted Hawkmoth, Tomato Hornworm
Manduca sextaCarolina Sphinx, Tomatoe Sphinx, Tobacco Hornworm
Nepheloleuca politiaSpotted Swallow-tailed Moth
Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
Spodoptera dolichosSweetpotato Armyworm, Dolichos Armyworm, Large Cotton Armyworm
Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm

Show all 11

Calosima albapenella

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

1BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Datura

Agelaius phoeniceusRed-winged Blackbird

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Solanaceae
Hardiness: Zones 9a–11b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: Purple or white
Fruit begins: September
Fruit ends: October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “July to September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Purple or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Fruit begins · “September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 9a–11b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “2–5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Soil · “Occasionally dry; Very dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Indian Apple

Conservation status

Florida rank	Not available
Global rank	G5
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source