Information on Nicotiana

Plant Attributes

• Nicotiana produces star-shaped flowers in shades of white, pink, red, lavender, green and yellow. The plants reach between 12 and 36 inches tall, depending on the variety. The flowers have a strong but pleasant fragrance, which becomes more pronounced in the evening hours. The flowers produce a blue pollen in the center of the flower. Nicotiana includes petunias, tomatoes and smoking tobacco plants as close relatives. While nicotiana is a short-lived perennial, it's most often grown as an annual since the plants don't always overwinter successfully.

Site Preferences

• Beds that provide drainage and don't collect too much moisture provide a suitable site for nicotiana plants. The plant flowers best in beds that receive direct, all-day sunlight but they survive in partially shaded locations, though with reduced flowering. Nicotiana doesn't require highly fertilized soils, but beds amended with some organic matter help grow healthier, more productive plants. The nicotiana plant also grows well as an outdoor container plant as long as the container provides bottom drainage and quality potting soil is used.

Planting Methods

• Plants grow from seeds sown directly in garden beds or started indoors one to two months before the last spring frost. The seeds require light for germination so they must be sown on the soil surface. A moist seed bed helps encourage germination and most nicotiana seeds germinate within a week. The seeds are exceptionally small but mixing them with sand before you sow helps prevent overseeding. Nicotiana seedlings need plenty of sunlight and even moisture to reach maturity successfully. The plants also are available as bedding transplants from most nurseries and garden centers. Some varieties self seed in the garden so new plants return on their own each spring.

Basic Care

• Flowering tobacco requires only minimal maintenance during the summer months. It survives short dry periods with only minor leaf wilt. Once weekly watering that moistens the top 6 to 8 inches of flowerbed prevents wilting and keeps the plants healthy. Mulching the bed also helps prevent drought stress and suppresses weed growth. Nicotiana doesn't require pruning but some of the taller varieties may require staking so they don't fall over in the bed.