Sacred Datura
Datura wrightii
Sacred Datura is one of the desert’s most mysterious and memorable plants. With large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the evening and a powerful scent that draws in moths after dark, it’s both beautiful and dangerous. Native to the deserts of the Southwest and northern Mexico, this plant has been respected—and feared—for generations.
Appearance:
This sprawling perennial shrub can reach several feet wide, with soft gray-green leaves and flowers up to six inches long. The blooms are usually white but may show lavender tints. They unfurl at dusk and close by morning. Every part of the plant, including the spiny seed pods, contains potent alkaloids.
Cultural Significance:
Many Native American tribes considered Sacred Datura a powerful spiritual plant. It was used in ceremonies to induce visions and was treated with great care. The plant's effects are unpredictable and can be dangerous—hallucinogenic, yes, but also highly toxic.
Medicinal Use:
Used traditionally in small, carefully prepared doses to relieve pain, swelling, and sleeplessness. Its use was limited to trained healers because of the high risk of overdose. Today, it serves more as a historical medicine than a modern remedy.
Warning:
Sacred Datura is not a plant to experiment with. All parts are toxic, and misuse can result in serious illness or death. Its real value lies in understanding its place in the ecosystem and the cultures that respected its power.
Note:
Despite its risks, Sacred Datura remains a stunning example of desert resilience. It grows in hard, dry places and still manages to put on one of the most dramatic floral displays in the region.
Desert Wash
Death Valley Wildflowers
Microhabitat
Indian Culture Ceremonialism
Wildflower Photo Guide
Joshua Tree National Park
List of Mojave Desert Shrubs *
Plants at Hoover Dam
Zion Wildflower List *
Plants of the Grand Canyon *
Mojave Desert Annuals *
Sacred Datura
Datura wrightiiFlowers are large, showy and erect to nodding. Found in dry open and sandy places to 4000', creosote bush scrub and joshua tree woodlands. Blooms May to October
Highly toxic - can be deadlys.
