Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) is native to Central and South America. Unlike its more famous cousin, flowering tobacco is primarily used as a fragrant ornamental flower. The blooms can come in shades of red, pink, yellow, white, or lime green. Flowering tobacco should be kept away from other plants of the nightshade family due to the potential to transfer a viral infection.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Nicotiana alata is a species of tobacco. It is called jasmine tobacco, sweet tobacco, winged tobacco, tanbaku, and Persian tobacco.
Nictoiana alata is mainly grown as an ornamental plant; numerous cultivars and hybrids are derived from it. In Iran, narghila tobacco is sometimes produced from N. alata; it is not chopped like cigarette tobacco, but broken up by hand.
Original species grow to reach 3′-5’ high and are spaced about a foot apart at planting.
Dwarf cultivars may only reach only 8” inches tall and require only 6” inches of space between plants.
Flowers appear early in the summer and bloom continuously into the fall, stopping only when the first frost appears.
Flowers are typically closed in the morning and open late in the afternoon.
The leaves of Nicotiana are slightly smaller at about 12″ inches long. At the point where the leaves attach to the stem, you will find winged petioles.
It is from this feature the plant earned the specific name alata (winged). The leaves at the top of the plant are quite a bit smaller than those at the bottom of the plant.
All Nicotiana plants have very sticky leaves. Be careful when mowing nearby, applying mulch, or otherwise tossing bits of debris around.
These materials can become stuck to the leaves and are difficult to remove.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Plant your flowering tobacco in full sun to part shade. At least six hours of sunlight on most days is ideal. In very hot climates, provide your plants with shade from hot afternoon sun.
Temperature and Humidity
Flowering tobacco likes moderate temperatures and isn’t overly picky about humidity. It will struggle in extreme heat and succumb to cold temperatures. It is mostly grown as an annual that is discarded at the end of the season and is not overwintered.
Watering
This plant likes consistently moist soil, so water whenever the top inch feels dry. Established plants can tolerate drought conditions for short periods. Flowering tobacco in containers needs more frequent watering to keep the soil evenly moist. This can be daily on hot summer days.
Soil and Transplanting
These plants do best in light, rich, airy soil. Work plenty of natural compost into the soil before seeding.
At the end of the growing season, mulch with natural, organic compost to protect and feed the soil through the winter.
If starting seeds indoors, be careful not to set the plants out until after all danger of frost passes. Then, transition the plants carefully to accustom them to cooler outdoor temperatures.
Once established, Nicotiana will re-seed itself year after year.
Fertilizing
Flowering tobacco prefers rich soil, which allows it to put on its best show of blooms. Feed immediately after planting with a balanced organic fertilizer. Then, continue to feed monthly throughout the growing season each year, which lasts from early summer until the first frost in the fall.
Pruning
Pinch out the center stem of young plants to encourage a bushy growth. The only pruning necessary later is deadheading to stimulate additional flowering. Limit deadheading near the end of the season if you want the plant to self-seed for the following year.
Propagation
The common method of propagating flowering tobacco is from seed. Vegetative propagation from stems, cuttings, or division is not practicable.
How to Grow from Seed
Flowering tobacco is typically propagated from seeds. You can also simply allow it to self-seed in the garden. The seeds are so tiny that it is best to start them in small pots or seed flats. Here’s how it’s done:
- Start the seeds five to six weeks before your average last frost date. Gently press the seeds into the pots filled with potting mix and cover them only with a dusting of soil, as they need light to germinate.
- Keep the pots in a bright location at 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the soil is well-moistened at all times. Once the seedlings emerge, which takes up to two weeks, they need plenty of sunlight so you might need to supplement natural indoor light with grow lights.
- Harden off and transplant the seedlings outside after the last frost.
Potting and Repotting
Smaller, compact varieties of flowering tobacco are excellent for growing in containers so you can enjoy the fragrant flowers on your deck or patio in the evening. The plants are commonly sold in 1-quart containers. Transplant them to a 1-gallon container so they have enough room to grow until the end of the season without requiring repotting.
Pests and Diseases
Flea beetles and tobacco hornworms are the most serious pests of flowering tobacco plants. You can recognize flea beetle damage by the presence of myriad tiny holes in the foliage. Floating row covers (a special material placed over the plants) can protect young plants; established plants are seldom damaged to the extent of plant loss. Moreover, diatomaceous earth can be an effective organic deterrent to flea beetles.
If your flowering tobacco plant seems to have lost half of its foliage overnight, look closely for the tobacco hornworm. The thumb-size green caterpillars sport a barb on their tails. This pest presents a paradox for the gardener: The caterpillars mature into hummingbird moths that you might wish to attract to your flowers. But if the caterpillar damage is bothersome, you can handpick the pests (with gloves) off the plants or apply Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that acts as a natural pesticide.
Furthermore, these plants have good resistance to disease but they are susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus. The disease can cause stunted growth and yellowing of the foliage. Infected plants should be dug up and burned to prevent the virus from spreading.
III. Types of Flowering Tobacco
There are several varieties of flowering tobacco that range in size, coloring, and other attributes. They include:
- ‘Lime Green’: This plant reaches around 2 feet tall and features lime green, very fragrant flowers.
- ‘Nicki Red’: This variety grows to about 1.5 feet tall and bears deep red blooms.
- ‘Perfume Deep Purple’: This variety features rich purple flowers and grows to about 2 feet tall.
IV. Uses and Benefits
Flowering tobacco is not intended for smoking, but it does have a great deal of nicotine in the leaves, just like its cousin (Nicotiana tabacum).
Flowering tobacco is excellent for mass plantings as a bedding plant and a perfect addition to a night garden because it fills the air with a rich and enjoyable intense fragrance. Plus they are deer resistant.
Read our PlantCareToday article: Deer Resistant Annuals
Hummingbird, butterfly, and general pollinator gardens benefit from the addition of Nicotiana.
They are also an excellent choice near a deck, patio, or open window in the summertime.
They perform well in containers, pots, and as specimen plants in rock gardens.