Brugmansia and Datura afficianados have discovered a new member of the Solanaceae family to heartily embrace. Iochroma has all the qualities one looks for in a solid, garden staple: strong color, fast growth and easy care.
     This Brugmansia relative has the same basic characteristics of their larger cousins. Flowers are tubular with flared hems, but they are grouped in clusters and are barely over three inches in length. Leaves are slightly fuzzy, ovate and appear in profusion. Older stems are woody and terminate as softwood and all those clusters of flowers.
     The Iochroma's  color range is a refreshing change from the usual pinks, yellows, whites, and pale oranges found among the Brugmansias. Of the ten known colors, all are deep and vibrant. The blues range from the  lightest lavender found in "Sky King" to the dark, Lapis colored "Royal Blue". The red is a bright scarlet with interior flecks of yellow. "Wine Red" is just a few shades lighter than cranberry sauce. "Plum" is shades of violet.  "Grandaflora" is medium Lapis with a larger bell that flares  to four times the size of the other varieties. "Australus Alba" has a shorter, more classic bell shape. "Sunrise" is shades of lobster, salmony/ orange.
    Generally, Iochroma enjoys sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. It can handle temperatures into the low thirties, but will be damaged if allowed to freeze. It may be pruned to a few inches and heavily mulched in colder zones, or you may choose to pot it up with an eye toward bringing it inside your home or greenhouse for the winter.
    Iochroma produces small, round fruits if pollinated after flowering. The seed within may or may not be viable. As a result, it is better to take at least a four inch cutting with a bit of hardwood at one end, and place it in a barely moist mix of potting soil cut 50% with Perlite. Cuttings may also strike roots if stuck in moist sand. They should be taken when the growing season is well in, and it is important to add a mild fungicide and/or rooting powder as cuttings can be tempermental.
    As Iochroma is a shrub, it can become leggy or misshapen. Intelligent pruning keeps it within bounds and attractive. It may grow to  between 4-8 feet, so, if you intend to set them in rows, plant them at least three to four feet apart. Iochroma is a great plant to interspace between Brugmansia. The contrast between the BIG bells and the small sprays of primary colored bells is a pleasant sight.     All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested (as are many garden plants), so be mindful of this around children or pets. We haven't had much problem with insects, but the plants may pick up mealy bugs in the greenhouse. Make sure enclosed areas have plenty of air circulation.
    There are few resources for Iochroma at this time and even fewer nurseries that carry all of the colors and varieties. Here at the garden, we are making every effort to reproduce as many of the colors and varieties as possible. We are also working toward making new colors.