Identifying Your "Moonflower": Likely Datura, Not Ipomoea

Your plant—dinner-plate-sized rosette, dandelion-like leaves, yellow evening flowers that turn pink by morning, reseeding on Lake Erie shores—is almost certainly a Datura species (jimsonweed/thorn apple), not Ipomoea (morning glory/moonflower).

Why Datura Fits

• Large, trumpet-shaped flowers opening at dusk.
• Coarse, lobed leaves resembling dandelion.
• Spiny seed pods ("jazzy" in catalogs).
• Reseeds aggressively in Zone 6.
• All parts highly toxic—alkaloids cause hallucinations, delirium, death.

Why Not Ipomoea

• I. alba (white moonflower) has heart-shaped leaves, white flowers, twining vine habit.
• I. muricata (purple moonflower) is a vine, not a rosette.

Safety First

• Remove if children or pets access the area.
• Wear gloves when handling; wash hands thoroughly.
• Deadhead before seed pods mature to limit spread.

For expert advice, consult the American Brugmansia & Datura Society (abads.net). Enjoy the evening fragrance—but respect the toxicity.