Flowering tobacco plants have long been prized in cottage and moon gardens for their intensely scented flowers. A relative of true tobacco, flowering tobacco plants are grown for their blooms. Perennial in Zones 10-11, elsewhere, flowering tobacco plants make excellent annuals for adding splashes of color and scent all season long.
Bloom shapes can vary quite a bit. Some are long tubes with a flared star-like opening, while others are small and borne in large quantities that create clouds of bell-shaped blooms. Many white varieties are fragrant at night, emitting a sweet smell similar to jasmine.
Flowering tobacco plants generally have medium-green leaves, which can be quite large in many species, especially in comparison to the flowers. In addition, their usually hairy leaves can be sticky to the touch, much like petunia plants.
Flowering tobacco is toxic to humans and pets.
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Flowering Tobacco Overview
Where to Plant Flowering Tobacco
Flowering tobacco should be planted where it will get plenty of sunshine. Taller varieties are much more likely to require staking in more shade. Place taller varieties at the back of a sunny border; others perform well as colorful additions to the middle of a garden bed.
How and When to Plant Flowering Tobacco
Flowering tobacco likes warm weather, so wait two weeks or more after the last frost date in your area before planting these in your garden. Potted specimens generally require a planting hole roughly twice the size of their root ball, planted at the same depth as in the pot, deep watering at planting time, and regular watering intervals as the roots take hold.
Flowering Tobacco Care Tips
Flowering tobacco is easy to grow, and it's a good container annual.
Light
Flowering tobacco plants do best in full sun, and some varieties can perform in part sun.
Soil and Water
Flowering tobacco plants are extremely easy to grow in well-drained, moist soils. Give them rich soil, and they'll happily load up on blooms that last until frost. Once these plants are established, they can handle some drought but prefer reasonably consistent moisture.
Temperature and Humidity
Temperatures on the moderate side are best for flowering tobacco. It won't survive high heat and extremely cold weather.
Fertilizer
These plants are very heavy feeders, so a slow-release fertilizer is always beneficial. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
Pruning
Deadhead tobacco flower throughout the season, but don't deadhead too much towards the end of the season if you want the plants to self-seed the following year. For bushier plants, pinch out the center stem of the plant.
Potting and Repotting Flowering Tobacco
Enjoy the scent of flowering tobacco by planting it in containers near patios and porches. Plant 1 quart plants in 1 gallon containers to eliminate the need for repotting after they've grown. Potted flowering tobacco will need daily watering during the hottest days of summer.
Pests and Problems
Because of the toxicity of these plants, they're generally pest free. A few pests, however, have managed to deal with these toxins. For example, you may have problems with the tobacco hornworm, a large green caterpillar that eventually becomes the hummingbird moth. These big bugs can quickly defoliate plants almost overnight. Manual removal is the easiest course of action against them. You may also encounter problems with aphids and whiteflies, but these are usually uncommon in outdoor settings.
How to Propagate Flowering Tobacco
The best way to propagate flowering tobacco is to let it self-seed in your yard. If you want to start seeds indoors, start the seeds five to six weeks before your average last frost date.
Press the tiny seeds into pots filled with moistened potting mix and cover them only with a dusting of soil or vermiculite, as they need light to germinate. Place pots in a warm spot (a warming mat works well) under bright, indirect light. Keep the soil well-moistened; watering in a tray underneath the seed pots is ideal. Seedlings will emerge after a couple of weeks. Grow in controlled conditions until you see several sets of true leaves, then harden off the plants before placing them in your garden.
Types of Flowering Tobacco
'Lime Green' Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana 'Lime Green' bears chartreuse star-shaped flowers on 2-foot-tall plants. Zones 10-11
Domino Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana 'Domino Series' bears flowers in shades of red, white, pink, and rose on 14-inch-tall plants.
Jasmine Tobacco
Nicotiana alata bears clusters of fragrant greenish-yellow flowers on 5-foot-tall stems. Perennial in Zones 10-11 but usually grown as an annual
Nicotiana Mutabilis
Nicotiana mutabilis bears trumpet-shaped flowers that open white and mature to rich rose pink on 4-foot-tall plants. Perennial in Zones 9-11, but usually grown as an annual
'Perfume Deep Purple' Flowering Tobacco
Nicotiana 'Perfume Deep Purple' is an award-winning selection that bears rich purple flowers on 2-foot-tall plants. Zones 10-11
Nicotiana Sylvestris
Nicotiana sylvestris bears clusters of fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers on plants to 5 feet tall. Perennial in Zones 10-11 but usually grown as an annual
Flowering Tobacco Companion Plants
Spider Flower
Amazingly, the tall spider flower is an annual plant. Once temperatures warm up, it zooms to 4 feet or more very quickly with large balls of flowers that have fascinating long seedpods that whirl out. Cut it for vases, but be aware that the flowers shatter easily after a few days. Because it develops large thorns, keeping spider flower away from walkways is best. Be careful about fertilizing, or you'll have extremely tall, floppy plants. Group in clusters of 6 or more for best effect. Zones 3-11
Dusty Miller
Dusty miller is a favorite because it looks good with everything. The silvery-white color is a great foil for any garden blossom, and the fine-textured foliage creates a beautiful contrast against other green foliage. Dusty miller has also earned its place in the garden because it's easy to grow, withstanding heat and drought like a champion. Zones 7-10
French Marigolds
French marigolds are the fancy ones. They tend to be frilly, and some boast a distinctive "crested eye." They grow roughly 8-12 inches high with a chic, neat growth habit and dark green foliage. They do best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and will flower all summer long. They may reseed, coming back year after year in spots where they're happy. Zones 2-11
Garden Plan for Flowering Tobacco
Design for a Moon Garden
Create a moon garden to enjoy flowers that bloom at night for lovely evenings. Don't forget a garden seat to relax and take it all in!
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many types of flowering tobacco are there?There are 67 species of flowering tobacco annuals, perennials, and a few woody plants. All of them are toxic.
There are 67 species of flowering tobacco annuals, perennials, and a few woody plants. All of them are toxic.
- How big will flowering tobacco get?Depending on the cultivar, plants range from 6 to 10 inches tall as bedding plants, to around 2 to 3 feet tall, perfect for the middle of the border, and even up to 15 feet tall as a specimen or back-of-the-border plant.
Depending on the cultivar, plants range from 6 to 10 inches tall as bedding plants, to around 2 to 3 feet tall, perfect for the middle of the border, and even up to 15 feet tall as a specimen or back-of-the-border plant.
- Where is flowering tobacco native to?Flowering tobacco is native to Southern Brazil and Northeastern Argentina.
Flowering tobacco is native to Southern Brazil and Northeastern Argentina.