photo courtesy All-America Selections ('Perfume Deep Purple')

(ni-co-she-aa’nah)

Common name: Flowering Tobacco, Ornamental Tobacco

Family: Solanaceae, Nightshade

Height x width: 12-24" for cultivars generally, species to 5’

Growth rate: moderate to fast

Foliage: alternate, sticky (viscid-pubescent), often larger basal leaves, spoon-to variousy shaped depending on species, generally 2-10" long being smaller in cultivars

Flowers: tubular (salverform), 2-4" long being shorter in cultivars, quite fragrant especially in evenings and calm days, grouped in open racemes or panicles; pink, red, white, green; summer to early fall

Hardiness: annual

Soil: prefers well-drained, moist

Light: prefers full sun, tolerates part shade

Pests and Problems: viruses, aphids especially young plants, occasionally flea beetles

Landscape habit, uses: depending on cultivar/species and height front to back of borders, massed cultivars, short-lived cut flower; fragrant gardens especially near patios and windows; shorter cultivars in planters and pots; tall species excellent for tropical effects in gardens

Other interest: sap is poisonous, species rustica was one first introduced to Europe and was commonly source of nicotine insecticides early in 20th century; related to smoking tobacco (tabacum); named for Jean Nicot (1530-1600), the French consul to Portugal who introduced this genus to France; native to Tropical America, Australia

Other culture: overfertilizing may lead to larger plants needing staking, poor blooms

Propagation: purchased seeds for cultivars, uncovered, indoors 10 weeks before last spring frost

Species:of the 67 species, the following are most commonly used ornamentally

• alata (ah-laa’tah)--leaves variously ovate, to 10" long being smaller up stems; very fragrant flowers to 4" long, greenish outside and white inside tubular flowers
• langsdorffii (langs-dorf’fee-ii)-- ovate basal rosette of leaves; nodding, open panicles of 2" lime-green flowers
• x sanderae (san’der-ii)--cross of alata and forgetiana, variously ovate leaves, basal leaves with wavy edges, to 24" with open panicles of variously colored flowers, species of most common cultivars being of garden origin; short-lived perennial in tropical climates; cultivars often listed under alata
• sylvestris (sill-ves’tris)--basal rosette of elliptic leaves to 36" long; short, dense panicles of nodding, sweetly fragrant white flowers to 3" long to 5’ tall; trumpet-shaped flowers close in full sun; short-lived perennial in tropical climates

Cultivars: all of x sanderae, those marked * are most commonly seen
 

Cultivar	fragrant	flowers	height, in.	other
Breakthrough Mix	yes	mix	12-15	very early, compact
Domino series	yes	mixed and singles	12-18	early, fls open in day
‘Fragrant Cloud’	yes	white	30-36	large fls
Havana series	no	white, green	12-15	‘Appleblossom’ pink,green
‘Lime Green’	no	yellowish green	24-30	upright habit
Merlin series	no	purple, pink, lime, white	9-12	bred for pots
Metro series	no	red, pink, white, lime	12-15	vibrant colors
*Nicki series	yes	mixed and singles	15-18	bright colors
Sensation Mix	yes	pink, red, white	24-30	fls keep open in day
Starship series	no	red, pink, white, lime	12-15	weather tolerant

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