Creating a subtropical garden in the UK with Brugmansia

Creating a subtropical garden in the UK is an exercise in "theatrical" gardening. Since our climate isn't naturally tropical, we rely on fast-growing perennials and hardy mimics to create that dense, steaming-jungle aesthetic.

Adding Brugmansia (Angel’s Trumpet) to the mix takes it to the next level. These plants are the ultimate "showstoppers"—they offer massive, pendulous flowers and a scent that becomes intoxicating as the sun goes down.

1. The UK Strategy: The "In-and-Out" Method

While many plants in a subtropical bed (like Trachycarpus palms) stay out all year, Brugmansia is tender. In the UK, it won't survive a hard frost.

• The Pot-in-Pot Trick: Instead of planting your Brugmansia directly in the soil, sink a large plastic pot into your garden bed and drop the potted Brugmansia inside it.

• Plant in a dedicated Subtropical Bed: Brugmansia do well in bed borders but need feeding well

• The Benefit: In October/November, you can simply lift the inner pot, prune the plant back, and move it to a frost-free shed or conservatory for the winter.

2. Designing the Bed Around Brugmansia

Brugmansia can grow into a small tree (2-3 meters) in a single UK summer if fed well. Use it as a mid-to-back layer anchor.

Companion Plants for the UK Climate

To make the Brugmansia look at home, surround it with plants that handle UK winters better:

Plant Type	Variety	Role
The "Big Leaf"	Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' or Musa Basjoo/ Musa sikkimensis	Massive, silver-green leaves that look like dinosaur footprints and Large hardy Banana leaves
The Texture	Dicksonia antartica and other ferns	Add different texture leaves at different levels
The Colour	Tibouchina urvilleana	Lovely foliage and iridescent purple flowers
The Undergrowth	Fuchsia boliviana or Colocasia	Red hanging flowers and fruit and elephant ear leaves with unusual flowers

3. Feeding the Beast

Brugmansia are "heavy feeders." To get those iconic 10-inch trumpets in a short UK growing season, you need to be aggressive:

• Water: Every day from May to August. They are thirsty plants.

• Feed: Use a high-potash liquid feed (like tomato food) every other day during the peak of summer to trigger massive flowering flushes.

4. Safety Note

Important: All parts of the Brugmansia are highly toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation. Always wear gloves when pruning and keep them away from curious pets or children.

5. Overwintering in the UK

Once the temperature consistently drops below 5°C, your Brugmansia will start to look unhappy.

1. Cut back: Prune the branches back to a manageable "V" shape.

2. Dormancy: Keep it in a cool, dark, frost-free place and keep relatively dry..

3. Minimum Water: Only water it once a month in winter—just enough so the root ball doesn't turn into dust.