Thorn-apple
Datura stramonium, family Solanaceae
A poisonous, night-blooming plant with trumpet-shaped white or violet flowers
Thorn-apple (Datura stramonium) is a toxic, bushy annual herb with large, trumpet-shaped flowers that open at night. Native to Central America, it now grows wild in warm and temperate regions worldwide, often as a weed. All parts are poisonous, and it has been used in traditional medicine and rituals, but accidental poisoning is common.
- All parts of the plant are highly poisonous and can be fatal if ingested.
- Flowers are trumpet-shaped, white to violet, and open at night with a strong scent.
- Native to Central America but now found worldwide as a weed.
- Used in traditional medicine and rituals, but accidental poisoning is common.
What does Thorn-apple look like?
Thorn-apple is a bushy, annual herb that grows 60 to 150 cm tall. Its stems are stout, pale yellow-green to reddish purple, and branch repeatedly. The leaves are large, toothed, and dark green above, lighter below, with a bitter taste. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are 6 to 9 cm long, white to creamy or violet, and open at night, giving off a strong, pleasant scent. The fruit is a spiny or smooth capsule, splitting into four chambers with many black seeds.
Where does Thorn-apple come from?
Datura stramonium likely originated in Central America and was spread to other continents early on. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, though known to botanists before that. Today, it grows wild in disturbed soils, roadsides, and waste places across warm and temperate regions worldwide. Its seeds are spread by birds and can remain dormant in soil for years, germinating when disturbed.
When and how Thorn-apple blooms
Thorn-apple blooms throughout summer, with flowers opening at night and attracting moths. It grows in disturbed soils, often near livestock or in waste areas. The plant is grown from seed, which can remain viable in soil for years. Handling requires care, as all parts are toxic.
How Thorn-apple is used
Thorn-apple has a history of use in traditional medicine for various ailments, but all parts are highly poisonous. It has also been used in rituals for its hallucinogenic effects, though these can be dangerous and even fatal. Accidental poisoning from eating or smoking parts of the plant has been reported in many regions.
Kinds of Thorn-apple
Common names and forms vary by region, with names like jimsonweed in the United States and malpitte in South Africa. The plant's toxicity and appearance can differ depending on where it grows, with toxin levels often lower outside its native range.
What Thorn-apple means
The plant is known for its toxic and hallucinogenic properties and has been used in sacred or occult rituals. Its name in English, jimsonweed, comes from an incident in Jamestown, Virginia, where soldiers were poisoned after eating it. In many places, it is considered a dangerous weed, and gardeners are advised to remove it with care.
Where Thorn-apple is used and seen
Questions people ask about Thorn-apple
Where does thorn-apple come from?
Thorn-apple is native to Central America, but it now grows wild in warm and temperate regions across the world, often as a weed in disturbed soils.
What does thorn-apple look like?
It is a bushy annual herb with large, toothed leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers that are white, cream, or violet. The flowers open at night and have a strong scent.
Is thorn-apple poisonous?
Yes, all parts of the plant contain dangerous levels of toxins and can be fatal if eaten or smoked. Accidental poisonings are common.
What is thorn-apple used for?
It has been used in traditional medicine and rituals for its hallucinogenic effects, but these uses are risky due to its high toxicity.
Does thorn-apple have any cultural significance?
It is known for its use in rituals and as a hallucinogen, and its English name jimsonweed comes from an incident in Jamestown, Virginia, where soldiers were poisoned after eating it.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Datura stramonium on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Datura stramonium", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
Others in the family Solanaceae
The whole family
Datura
A group of trumpet-shaped, highly toxic flowering plants in the nightshade family
🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower
Nicotiana
The tobacco plant genus, grown for leaves and garden flowers worldwide
Nicotiana · Wildflower
Petunia
A South American garden flower with trumpet-shaped blooms in many colours
Petunia · Garden flower
Datura metelधतूरा
A shrubby plant with trumpet-shaped flowers, grown for ornament and tradition
🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Garden flower
More from China
All the flowers of China
Common sunflowerHelianthus annuus
A tall annual plant grown for its large yellow flower heads and edible seeds
🇨🇦 Canada and 4 more · Wildflower
BirchBetula
Slender trees with papery bark found across the northern world
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower
FennelFoeniculum vulgare
A tall, aromatic herb with feathery leaves and yellow umbels, used for food and spice
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Herb or useful flower
RosemarySalvia rosmarinus
A fragrant evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers
🇪🇸 Spain and 5 more · Flowering shrub