While the Brugmansia key is incomplete, the primary Brugmansia species are described below.
See also the Brugmansia hybrids page.

Flowers 4.5 - 6.5 inches long with white corollas. Corolla teeth are separated by distinct notches, making the flower appear to have "petals".

B. arborea grows as a shrub or small tree (6 - 15 ft.) and has softly hairy young stems, leaves, calyx, and fruit. The fruit is round to egg-shaped and 2.5 - 3.5 inches long.

Flower 7 - 9 inches (19 - 25 cm) long, and highly fragrant. Corolla white or gold-yellow, nodding to pendulous. Corolla teeth recurve backward. Calyx possess 2 - 5 teeth with no space between calyx and corolla.

B. aurea is a small tree reaching 35 feet tall has smooth or mildly hairy leaves. Fruit is egg shaped, 3-6 inches long.

Flowers 7 - 10 inches (16 - 25 cm) long and tubular only flaring a small amount. Corolla recurved, orange to red with yellow base. No space between calyx and corolla. Sepals are split two to five times.

B. sanguinea is a small tree reaching 35 feet, with softly hairy leaves. Fruit is egg shaped 3 - 5 inches long.

Flowers up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. Corolla white (sometimes pink or yellow), with a short constricted tube just above the calyx. Calyx 2 - 5 toothed. A highly-frangrant variety that is perfect for the moon garden.

B. suaveolens is a small tree 6 - 15 feet tall. Leaves are smooth edged (no teeth), either smooth-textured or with minute hairs. This variety was one of the first to gain popularity in Europe, especially during the Victorian era.

Large pendulous flowers are 12-18 inches (30-50 cm) long. Corolla typically white changing with age to apricot or peach-pink, trumpet-shaped, with the tube constricted well beyond the calyx. Calyx has a single split. Corolla teeth are long, flaring and recurved. Highly fragrant at night.

B. versicolor is a small tree 8 - 15 feet tall with smooth edged leaves. Fruit is spindle-like and 6-12 inches long.

Flowers tubular and 6-9 inches (15-25 cm) long, and nodding. Corolla ranging from yellow to orange, green near base. Calyx usually drops as the Corolla matures.

B. vulcanicola is a small tree up to 10 feet tall. Leaves are oval with smooth or toothed edges. Fuit is oval and warty.