THEY are big, they are bold and they are beautiful but beware because every bit is poisonous. But don't let this put you off growing these spectacular plants - just handle them with care. Brugmansias, commonly known as Angel's Trumpets, and their close relatives, daturas, can be found in most tropical and warm regions.

Whether they originated in South America and Mexico or Africa is a matter of dispute between botanists but, it is thought, they were probably introduced into Europe during the Middle Ages by travelling bands of gipsies.

What is known for sure is that these plants played a prominent part in the cultural rituals of Africa, Asia and South America, where they were prized for their 'visionary' powers while in Medieval Europe they had strong associations with witchcraft, being the vital ingredient of the 'flying' potion which was also used to lure pure and innocent young girls into a life of shame!

On the good side, the plants had a medicinal role and were used in poultices for the relief of rheumatism and were smoked to give ease to asthma sufferers. But don't even think about trying any of this for yourselves. All parts of these plants contain alkaloid poisons in quantities strong enough to be fatal if taken in excess. It's also wise to be careful when handling the leaves and flowers as some gardeners do get an allergic reaction.

Brugmansias and daturas are closely related and, up until quite recently, were all lumped together under the latter name. It isn't always easy to decide which is which but that doesn't matter too much as we usually grow them for their strongly scented, trumpet-shaped blooms. If you can get round the poisonous aspect these plants are wonderful for patio tubs, being quick and easy to grow.

Brugmansias are the ones we tend to think of as Angel's Trumpets and in their native climate will grow into large evergreen trees and shrubs but here, unless they are grown in a heated greenhouse or conservatory, will lose their leaves in winter. Being confined in a pot will help to control their ultimate size and if they show signs of becoming too vigorous they don't mind being pruned hard.

In a conservatory they will flower happily from spring until autumn but outside they start to flower later, usually in July. Most of them are highly fragrant giving exotic perfumes to the evening air.

Daturas grow into more compact plants, up to about 1.2m high, producing large flowerheads which can be 30cm long. Such huge flowers will be quite heavy so the stems will need some support. If you are growing your plants in a container simply insert four or five 0.9m canes round the edge and tie in the stems as they get taller.

If you plan on growing your own plants sow the seed between January and March into individual pots or modules as the plants don't like root disturbance. Keep under glass until all danger of frost has passed. Daturas can be overwintered in the same way as brugmansias but can get a bit untidy and will be improved by hard pruning in the spring.

All of this family grow well in full sun or light shade but do like to be sheltered from the wind.

During the summer they need plenty of water but when the weather gets colder they prefer to be fairly dry. They do better in John Innes No3 compost rather than a multipurpose one and need a layer of gravel at the bottom of the container as well as a handful or so of crocks. Feed regularly from about April with a liquid tomato fertiliser and you should be rewarded with lots of flowers.

At the end of the summer if your plant is too large to fit comfortably into your greenhouse or conservatory you can do a bit of gentle pruning, but this should be very sparing as the cut surfaces will weep during the winter months.

Heavy pruning should always be left until spring time. Both brugmansias and daturas will produce leaves from the old wood so it doesn't matter too much if you get over enthusiastic with your secateurs. As a bonus they root well from cuttings so pot up any prunings.

The best time for repotting is early spring before they are put outside for the season. Brugmansias make lots of roots and do better when repotted every year. If you don't want to move up to a larger pot this isn't a problem just cut back the rootstock with a sharp knife.