Quite a bit of confusion exists regarding the distinction of brugmansia from datura. However, it is not uncommon for brugmansia and datura to be confused. Such misidentification can be especially frustrating when it results from the ignorance or carelessness of presumed authorities, such as authors, commercial growers or seedsmen, who are in a position to further broadcast such errors. Brugmansia are typically described as woody shrubs or small trees that produce pendulous or nodding flowers.
Flower color includes white, yellow, pink, orange, salmon, and red.
Datura are described as herbaceous annuals or short-lived perennials, which most commonly are seen with white, yellow, or purple blooms. In differentiating the genera, it is best to apply several criteria because individual specimens of one genus can possess some traits more common to the other. However, it is possible for newly-rooted brugmansia cuttings to flower while still small. Datura blooms are usually characterized as upright - those of brugmansia are nodding or pendant. The aerial parts of perennial datura die back each Fall, and new growth emerges from the rootstock in Spring.