Brugmansia arborea is a shrub that can quickly reach heights of 4-5 metres. Angels Trumpet takes its name from its trumpet-shaped flowers. Creamy white and heady-smelling at night, the hanging corollas have lobed edges, tapering to five upturned points. They are particularly attractive to moths. The foliage is deciduous and the fruits are elongated, smooth capsules containing large brown seeds.

Brugmansia is a reference to the Dutch natural history professor Sebald Justin Brugmans (1763-1819). Arborea means "tree" (Latin).

It needs rich, well-drained soil that is cool but dry in winter, as well as a sunny spot sheltered from the wind. It tolerates very light frosts.

• Ornamental
• Cultual: All parts of the plant are toxic! The leaves, flowers and seeds are used as psychotropic substances in rituals. Shamans used it to see the future and talk to the ancestors. In Peru, it was used as an anaesthetic. Containing scopolamine and other alkaloids, consumption of the plant leads to hallucinations, delirium, coma and death.

This species is considered extinct in the wild according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list. Brugmansias are often confused with Daturas, due to the mixture of species and variety names. The Brugmansia genus includes shrubs with hanging flowers, while the Datura genus includes annual or perennial herbaceous plants with upright or horizontal flowers.