Datura metel 'Hindi Datura' Seeds

5 Seed Pack

Product Listing

Datura metel (Hindi Datura) — 5 Seeds

A dramatic, night-fragrant ornamental long grown in Indian gardens and temple plantings, Hindi Datura produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers, often in rich purple or double-layered white-and-purple forms, above coarse grey-green foliage. A striking architectural specimen for a garden bed or large container, it flowers through summer into autumn with a strong evening fragrance that carries well after dusk.

What you receive: 5 seeds with this germination guide.

IMPORTANT — NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. HIGHLY TOXIC. This plant and its seeds are sold exclusively as an ornamental horticultural specimen for propagation and garden display. Every part of this plant is poisonous. See the safety notice below before purchasing or planting.

Germination Guide

Seed Preparation

Datura seeds have a hard coat and germinate more reliably with a little help:
- Soak: soak seeds in warm water for 24–48 hours before sowing, changing the water once.
- Scarify (optional): a light nick or light sanding of the seed coat can speed things up further.

Sowing

Timing: Sow in spring once the soil has warmed, or start indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost.
Depth: Sow shallow, around 0.5–1 cm deep, and cover lightly.
Medium: A free-draining seed-raising mix.
Temperature: Germinates best at 21–27°C.
Moisture: Keep evenly moist, not wet, until germination — typically 1–3 weeks, sometimes longer.
Light: Bright light once seedlings emerge.

Seedling Care

Datura seedlings grow quickly once established. Pot on into a well-draining general mix as roots fill the starter pot.
Harden off gradually before planting out, as with most tender ornamentals.

Mature Plant Care

Position: Full sun to light shade; appreciates some afternoon protection in very hot climates.
Soil: Rich, free-draining soil. Tolerates poor soil but flowers and grows best with regular organic matter.
Water: Regular water during the growing season; reduce over winter, particularly if grown as a container plant in cooler climates.
Feeding: Monthly balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season supports strong flowering.
Size: Grows as a substantial annual or short-lived perennial, often 1–1.5 m tall and wide in a season.
Frost: Frost-tender; in marginal climates grow as an annual from seed each year, or protect/overwinter under cover.
Self-seeding: Seed pods form readily after flowering and can self-sow. Deadhead if you want to control spread, and be mindful of where seedlings might come up, particularly around children's play areas.

Safety Notice — Please Read

This plant is highly toxic in every part — seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, and sap. It is sold strictly for ornamental garden cultivation and is not for human consumption under any circumstances.

Datura metel contains potent tropane alkaloids, including atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These are not mild compounds — Datura poisoning is a well-documented cause of serious hospitalisation and death, including in people who deliberately or accidentally ingested small amounts. Possible effects and dangers of ingestion include:

Severe, prolonged delirium and hallucinations that are frequently described by poisoning survivors as frightening and disorienting rather than pleasant
Extreme, dangerous unpredictability — alkaloid concentration varies enormously between individual seeds, plants, and growing conditions, making any ingested amount impossible to judge safely
Rapid heart rate, dangerously elevated body temperature, and dry, flushed skin
Severely dilated pupils and blurred vision, sometimes lasting days
Urinary retention and severe constipation
Seizures, coma, and cardiac arrest in more serious poisonings
Prolonged confusion and memory loss that can persist well after other effects fade
Significant risk to children and pets, for whom even small accidental ingestions can be life-threatening
No reliable antidote for recreational-style ingestion — medical treatment is supportive and sometimes intensive (hospitalisation, cardiac monitoring)

Because of this toxicity profile, Datura is one of the more dangerous ornamental plants commonly grown in home gardens. Site it thoughtfully, keep it away from areas frequented by children or pets, and consider gloves when handling plant material, as alkaloids can be present on leaf and stem surfaces.

Seeds sold by Sacred Herbology are supplied and handled as horticultural stock only, and no assurance is made about their safety in any other context. Any use outside of ornamental propagation and cultivation is entirely at the purchaser's own risk and outside the scope of what this listing supports or endorses.

If you or someone else has ingested any part of this plant, treat it as a medical emergency. Call 000 (Australia) or contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.