Expert: C.L. Fornari - 5/7/2008

Question
Hello, I am looking for a moon plant.  Not the vine, but the plant/bush.  I was hoping you could give me a little advice on where I could find one.

Answer
Rachel,
The problem with common names is that they apply to several plants, so I'm not sure I'll be of help with just the name "moon plant."  But this is one of the names given to Datura, you might try going to google images and type in "Datura moon plant" and see if this is what you're looking for.  In my area garden centers carry this as an annual (it often reseeds so will come up year after year) and it's pretty easy to grow from seed.  It is highly poisonous however - seeds, leaves, stems and roots, so do not plant it where children, pets or curious teens can get to it. (Datura is a halluciogen - you go on a trip before you die - and some internet sites etc get teens thinking that it might be an interesting high. It's not.)

Other than that, I've seen a Thumbergia with the common name of Moon Plant in the past, so check out that name on google images as well.

That's the best I can do and I hope it helps!
C>l.