10/12/2025
Strictly Medicinal Seeds
Moonflower Datura (Datura inoxia) seedpod, looking like a confused brain in the rain, a doctrine of signatures if ever there was one. Here's a bit more info:
Datura inoxia
Family: Nightshade (Solanacea)
Hardy to Zones 7 to 12
Herbaceous perennial native to Central and South America, with a current worldwide distribution. Flowers oversize even for such a large plant, and completely tuned to the moon. Flaring trumpets, moonshine white, narcotically scented, almost enough to make you swoon! Traditional usage, external only (TWM): asthma, motion sickness, pain. All parts of the plant are toxic, no part of this plant should ever be taken internally. Plant prefers a sunny, mesic to dry location, and will grow in poor soil, sand or cobble. Sow seeds in spring. Use a sandy, alkaline mix (cactus mix) or sow outdoors in fast draining soil. Barely cover seed and tamp well, then water and allow to dry out before watering again. Keep doing this until germination occurs. It can take some time. I've seen the seeds germinate all at once after the potting soil became dry and very hot, in the direct sun. GA3 speeds germ., so an application of willow shoot tea or kelp tea can be very helpful.
