Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii)

Datura wrightii, or "Sacred Datura", is the name of a flowering and poisonous ornamental plant of the Nightshade Family (Solanaceaes), endemic to southwestern North America. It is ubiquitous throughout the South Western United States specifically but is observably most abundant within Southern California. It is sometimes used as an (often powerfully) intoxicating hallucinogen. Datura wrightii, as well as other members of the botanical Datura genus are sub-classified as a 'deliriant' hallucinogens which are virtually all anticholinergic drugs (specifically antimuscarinics). This class of hallucinogens are known for causing considerable disturbances in cognition, perception (especially visual and auditory) as well as a multitude of psychological facets relating to memory and attention.

The plant is a vigorous herbaceous perennial that grows 30 centimeter to 1.5 meter tall and wide. The leaves are broad and rounded at the base, tapering to a point, often with wavy margins. The flowers are the most striking feature, being sweetly fragrant white trumpets up to 20 centimeter (8 inches) long, often tinted purple, especially at the margin or in the throat. There are five narrow points spaced symmetrically around the rim. It can bloom from April to October. The fruit is spiny and conspicuous. In clear weather, flowers open at nearly full dark and wither a few hours after sunrise the following morning; in cloudy weather or in part shade, they may open earlier and last longer. A closely related species, Datura discolor, is limited to the Colorado Desert (a subdivision of the Sonora Desert) and is very similar in appearance. Datura wrightii is also often confused for or mistakenly conflated with the Datura innoxia species, however innoxia usually occurs further north and is also more common as a gardening plant whereas wrightii seems to be exorbitantly feral. Information from Calscape

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Growers: The Watershed Nursery