Nice Black Currant Swirl, koi Boi,
While Brugmansia and Datura were once considered to be within the same genus, they were separated many years ago. While both are in the family Solonaceae, they are really quite different, and crosses between them have been rare.
I had one Brugmansia flower by July 4, this year (Usually they flower in late August through frost here in zone 7a.) I have the old fashioned white datura and the purple double (which is generally late flowering for me), and several Brugs, including Super Nova, Charles Grimaldi, Jamaican yellow, Insignis Orange, Insignis Pink, and Ecuadorian Pink.
Daturas grow best from seeds, although I have had them come back from last years root stock. The yellow Brugmansias are root hardy here, coming back from winter freeze down to the ground. The pink varieties are less hardy for me. All are easy to root from cuttings. Anyone who wishes cuttings this spring, e-mail me. Brugs are tricky to grow from seed and are rarely true to form.
However, most must be hand pollinated to produce seed. By the way, there is a Brugmansia/Datura society (of which I am a member) that has a wonderful website at
http://www.abads.net/abadssitemap.htm . Membership is cheap. You will be happy you joined. (Give them my name as by way of introduction, they will treat you no differently than anyone else, proving that they are an egalitarian society.)
By the way: Here is the secret on getting Brug cuttings to bloom the first year: Brugs only bloom above the fork. When taking cuttings, always take them from above the fork. They will then bloom the first year, albeit above the fork.
Here are some Brug pics from my garden this year:
Super nova.
Insignis Pink
Charles Grimaldi
Wife
Wife with Super Nova and Charles Grimaldi
Ecuadorian Pink
Wife (43 years) with Insignis Pink