Nicotiana
( nik - oh - shee - AY - nuh )
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At-A-Glance InformationCommonly called Flowering Tobacco or Tobacco Plant, this genus of perennials and annuals includes plants which need full sun to partial shade and regular water to perform well. The flowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. Species are native to South America, Australia, Africa, and the South Pacific and will generally overwinter in mild-winter areas. Flowering Tobacco has an upright habit with sticky foliage and very fragrant (in some species) flowers which open at nighttime or on cloudy days. Some varieties, however, bloom during the day. Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as plant parts are toxic if ingested by humans or pets.
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Nicotiana Species and Varietals
The genus Nicotiana is in the plant family Solanaceae and includes 79 distinct species. The genus is named in honor of Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal in the 1500s, who sent samples of the plant as a medicine to the court of Catherine de' Medici. The best growing zones for Nicotiana plants vary somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Nicotiana acuminata (Manyflower Tobacco, Many-Flowered Tobacco) These plants are annuals that reach a bit over three feet tall and are native to Argentina and Chile. Leaves are green, and flowers are white or green-tinged. It freely hybridizes with other plants in the genus and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-11. This species is considered invasive in the United States (California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountains), Australia, and the Mediterranean. |
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Nicotiana alata (Nicotiana affinis) (Jasmine Tobacco, Sweet Tobacco, Winged Tobacco, Tanbaku, Persian Tobacco)
This is a wild species mainly grown as an ornamental plant that reaches 2-4 feet tall and a foot wide. These plants are cultivated in Iran for use as narghila tobacco, and the species is also frequently used to create hybrids. Flowers are large, white-green and open in the evening, emitting a wonderful fragrance. Varieties are available that open both day and night in a range of colors, including white, pink, red and lime green. Cultivars are listed and described below:
This is a wild species mainly grown as an ornamental plant that reaches 2-4 feet tall and a foot wide. These plants are cultivated in Iran for use as narghila tobacco, and the species is also frequently used to create hybrids. Flowers are large, white-green and open in the evening, emitting a wonderful fragrance. Varieties are available that open both day and night in a range of colors, including white, pink, red and lime green. Cultivars are listed and described below:
Perfume Series
Grows to 20 inches tall, and sold as Nicotiana x sanderae. Pleasantly fragrant. |
'Avalon Pink'
Reaches 12 inches tall; a nice, compact selection with pink blooms. |
Domino Series
12-15 inches tall with upward-facing flowers that can take some sun and heat. |
Nicki Series
15-18 inches tall. |
Sensation Strain
An older strain that reaches 4 feet tall; great for informal gardens. |
'Grandiflora'
3 feet tall, with fantastic evening fragrance. |
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Nicotiana attenuata (Coyote Tobacco, Wild Tobacco) These annual plants are native to western North America, and grow in many different landscapes within their range. Flowers are pinkish to greenish white and tubular. This type of tobacco was cultivated by the Zuni, Hopi, Apache, Navajo, and Paiute. Individual plants reach up to about 4 feet tall when mature. They are suited for USDA hardiness zones 2-11. |
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Nicotiana glauca (Tree Tobacco, Wild Tobacco, Mustard Tree, Tobacco Bush, Brazilian Tree Tobacco) These plants typically reach over 6 feet tall (at the most 23 feet tall) and are native to South America, but are widespread in the southwestern United States and are considered invasive in California. Flowers are tubular and yellow and foliage is green to grey-green. This species is considered invasive in the southwestern United States (including California), Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, the Canary Islands, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Mediterranean. |
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Nicotiana spp. Hybrids and Cultivars (Hybrid Nicotiana, Hybrid Tobacco, Hybrid Tobacco Bush)
This group of Nicotiana plants were bred for their flower color, fragrance, habit, or resistance to diseases and pests.
This group of Nicotiana plants were bred for their flower color, fragrance, habit, or resistance to diseases and pests.
'Lavender Cloud'
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'Marshmallow'
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'Peach Screamer'
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'Starlight Dancer'
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'Tinkerbell'
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'Whisper'
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Nicotiana langsdorffii (Langsdorff's Tobacco, Brazilian Tobacco, Flowering Tobacco) This species reaches 5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide, with bright yellow-green flowers that hang in drooping sprays. The flowers are not noticeably fragrant. Leaves are large and sticky. These plants are commonly grown as garden ornamentals. This species behaves as a short-lived perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10-11. |
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Nicotiana quadrivalvis (Colombian Tobacco, Sacred Tobacco, Indian Tobacco) This species is native to the western United States, and was traditionally cultivated by the indigenous people living in southern Oregon and northern California. Flowers are purple- or green-tinged white, and foliage is green. Individual plants reach up to between 4 and 7 feet tall when mature. This species can act as a weed in agricultural fields. |
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Nicotiana rustica (Aztec Tobacco, Strong Tobacco, Hopi Tobacco, Makhorka, Mapacho) This species is native to South America, and is a very potent variety of tobacco (containing up to 9 times the amount of nicotine than Nicotiana tabacum). These annuals reach up to 5 feet tall when mature and in bloom. Flowers are present from the month of July through September. |
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Nicotiana sylvestris (Woodland Tobacco, Flowering Tobacco, South American Tobacco, Night Scented Tobacco, White Shooting Stars, White Tobacco) This plant reaches 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide and has an intense fragrance. Flowers are white, long and tubular, and bloom in tiers at the top of the plant. Great for night gardens. Foliage is somewhat sticky. These plants are typically cultivated in gardens for their interesting flower inflorescences. Cultivar 'Only the Lonely' is a popular garden ornamental. |
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Nicotiana tabacum (Cultivated Tobacco, Tobacco Plant) These annual plants reach between 3 and 10 feet tall at maturity, and have sticky foliage. Flowers are scented, and bloom in inflorescences of a few blooms. Flowers can be pink, white, or red. This is a very commonly cultivated species of tobacco, and is primarily grown in China, Brazil, India, and the United States. This species is considered invasive in Cuba, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and sub-Saharan Africa. |
Caring for Nicotiana
Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as plant parts are toxic if ingested by humans or pets. Nicotiana, or Tobacco, plants are typically grown as perennials, but can also be grown as annuals in areas with warm summers or cold winters. do best when situated in a spot in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade. Ideally, these plants appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day, but in areas with warmer climates do like to get some shade during the warmest hours of the afternoon (between 2 and 3 PM). These plants can thrive in a variety of soil types and textures, as long as they are well-draining. Ensure that soil is rich in organic matter and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. After planting, install a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong, healthy root system in their new home. At maturity, Nicotiana prefers moist soil. Irrigate whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Established plants can tolerate drought conditions for short periods, but will flower and grow best when given regular irrigations.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Nicotiana plants is relatively straightforward. Young plants can be pinched back as they put on growth to encourage a bushier habit to form. Deadhead spent blooms to limit self-seeding activities and clean up the look of plants; this will also stimulate more flowers to pop. Nicotiana plants are tender perennials, and can survive in warmer climates for 2-5 years. In many zones, it is grown as an annual, pulled at the end of the growing season, composted, and replaced in the next.
Growing Nicotiana in Containers
Nicotiana plants can be grown either directly in the garden soil or in containers. Smaller, compact varieties are best for container culture, but any of the species listed above can be grown in pots if cared for properly. Ensure that the pot chosen has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for free flow of excess water from the root zone, and make sure that it is at least two inches wider and a few inches taller than the plant's nursery pot. A good size container for a 1-quart nursery specimen is 1 gallon; this will allow the plant to grow for an entire season without having to be potted up. Fill the container on the bottom and around the sides of the root ball with well-draining substrate amended with plenty of organic material, and lay down a topping of mulch after installing. Tobacco plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Harvesting Tobacco Leaves
Nicotiana plants are harvested for their leaves, which are used in a wide variety of applications, most commonly for smoking. The species cultivated for this purpose is Nicotiana tabacum. Plants are generally harvested between 70 and 130 days after transplanting, either by removing the entire plant and hanging it or by removing leaves at intervals as they mature and drying them individually. If cultivating Nicotiana tabacum for its leaves, make sure to pinch off flowers from plants whenever they begin to form; this will send more nutrients and water to foliage. Leaves on Tobacco plants are typically harvested from the base of the plant upwards as they develop, and once harvested, are dried through a process called curing. The easiest way to dry tobacco for home growers is usually to harvest the entire stalk of leaves once foliage has fully developed and hang it upside down in a shaded area with good airflow.
Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Nicotiana plants is relatively straightforward. Young plants can be pinched back as they put on growth to encourage a bushier habit to form. Deadhead spent blooms to limit self-seeding activities and clean up the look of plants; this will also stimulate more flowers to pop. Nicotiana plants are tender perennials, and can survive in warmer climates for 2-5 years. In many zones, it is grown as an annual, pulled at the end of the growing season, composted, and replaced in the next.
Growing Nicotiana in Containers
Nicotiana plants can be grown either directly in the garden soil or in containers. Smaller, compact varieties are best for container culture, but any of the species listed above can be grown in pots if cared for properly. Ensure that the pot chosen has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for free flow of excess water from the root zone, and make sure that it is at least two inches wider and a few inches taller than the plant's nursery pot. A good size container for a 1-quart nursery specimen is 1 gallon; this will allow the plant to grow for an entire season without having to be potted up. Fill the container on the bottom and around the sides of the root ball with well-draining substrate amended with plenty of organic material, and lay down a topping of mulch after installing. Tobacco plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Harvesting Tobacco Leaves
Nicotiana plants are harvested for their leaves, which are used in a wide variety of applications, most commonly for smoking. The species cultivated for this purpose is Nicotiana tabacum. Plants are generally harvested between 70 and 130 days after transplanting, either by removing the entire plant and hanging it or by removing leaves at intervals as they mature and drying them individually. If cultivating Nicotiana tabacum for its leaves, make sure to pinch off flowers from plants whenever they begin to form; this will send more nutrients and water to foliage. Leaves on Tobacco plants are typically harvested from the base of the plant upwards as they develop, and once harvested, are dried through a process called curing. The easiest way to dry tobacco for home growers is usually to harvest the entire stalk of leaves once foliage has fully developed and hang it upside down in a shaded area with good airflow.
Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.
Propagation
Nicotiana, or Tobacco, is best propagated via seed. To propagate your Flowering Tobacco plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Nicotiana by Seed
Propagating Nicotiana by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded, located along the flowering stems. Once they have browned, dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Nicotiana seed pods hold many small seeds.
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Nicotiana seeds are very tiny.
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Problems and Pests
Certain species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Nicotiana plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape:
- Aphids
- Tobacco Hornworm
- Flea Beetles
- Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Gallery
Nicotiana can be grown either in the ground or in containers.
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This bed of Nicotiana is surrounded by a boxwood hedge, creating a formal look for these unformal flowers.
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There are some varieties of Nicotiana that produce striking chartreuse-green flowers.
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Nicotiana flowers are fragrant, and brightly colored enough to stand out in moon gardens.
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Nicotiana, although beautiful, is not safe to grow around humans or animals that may try to eat it.
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This mixed planter heavily features Ornamental Tobacco.
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Videos
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How to collect Nicotiana seeds.
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How to care for these beautiful flowering plants.
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Learn how to grow Nicotiana.
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Watch this Tobacco plant timelapse.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 456, Nicotiana
