Pruning Moonflower (Datura) for Health and Safety

When and How to Cut Back Moonflower

Moonflower (Datura spp.), also known as jimsonweed, angel’s trumpet, or thornapple, is a striking night-blooming plant—but it’s also highly toxic. All parts of the plant can cause hallucinations or even death if ingested, so handle with gloves and keep away from children and pets.

Timing Depends on Your Climate

• Frost-prone areas: Moonflower behaves as an annual, reseeding itself each year. Cut it back whenever you like—after frost kills the top growth, or in late fall to tidy up.
• Frost-free zones: It grows as a perennial shrub. Prune in late fall as flowering slows, shaping the plant and removing dead wood.

Safety First

Always wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning. Dispose of clippings securely—do not compost where animals or children might access them. With proper care, moonflower offers dramatic, fragrant blooms from summer into fall.