Nicotiana Species, Woodland Tobacco, Flowering Tobacco, South American Tobacco
Nicotiana sylvestris
Family: | Solanaceae (so-lan-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Nicotiana (nih-ko-she-AH-na) (Info) |
Species: | sylvestris (sil-VESS-triss) (Info) |
Additional cultivar information: | (aka Only The Lonely) |
Category:
Annuals
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Foliage Color:
Chartreuse/Yellow
Height:
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness:
Not Applicable
Where to Grow:
Danger:
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Auburn, Alabama
Calistoga, California
Citrus Heights, California
San Jose, California
Tulare, California
Westminster, California
Clifton, Colorado
Canton, Georgia
Champaign, Illinois
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Macy, Indiana
Louisville, Kentucky
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Blue Springs, Missouri
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Peters, Missouri
Roundup, Montana
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Champlain, New York
Ronkonkoma, New York
Wallkill, New York
Dover, Ohio
Thackerville, Oklahoma
Grants Pass, Oregon
Houston, Pennsylvania
Kintnersville, Pennsylvania
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
San Antonio, Texas
Ogden, Utah
Seattle, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Neutral | On May 25, 2018, nothingfails from YAMBOL UPPER THRACE, Very slow to get it going. Planted the seeds in June last year. Most did not come out. It had reached only about 20 cm (a span/ human hand) by the time forsts started. I took it inside for the winter when it froze (did not develope further) until Spring. I took it out recently but something started eating its leaves during the nights. Not sure what it is - snails or slugs, which is strange as some say it is poisionous. Grown in a pot it does not seem very drought tolerant, as the leaves droop quickly. In my conditions there was hardly any scent off the flowers. |
Positive | On Oct 14, 2016, growin from Beautiful, BC (Zone 8b) wrote: Easy to grow and relatively fast to flower. Blooms emit a most pleasant aroma around 5pm and onwards. A small bouquet indoors was a most pleasant addition to the home. |
Positive | On Mar 13, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: This easy annual self-sows reliably and not too aggressively here (Boston Z6a). It's also easy to pull out if it begins growing where it isn't wanted. It tolerates more shade than most annuals. |
Negative | On Mar 12, 2015, LMD1028 from Westminster, CA wrote: Anyone know how to get rid of this plant? It's taken over part of my yard. No clue how it got back there, we never planted it. It would be a great plant if it were in the flower beds, but it's growing in the middle of my grass and yard. I sat one day digging out the roots, it took hours. Doesn't help. I poured hot soapy water on them, they don't care.I even tried plant poison/killer spray, doesn't work. Anyone know any other way? |
Positive | On Mar 22, 2014, JoySwede from Baudette, MN wrote: I have been growing this plant from seed for over 13 years. I start it from seed every year and it does beautifully in my flowerbeds on the Minnesota/Canadian border. It loves heat, sun and fertility, and has grown to 6' tall in some locations, it will still take a little shade too though. I love it for it's white flowers that glow in the evening, with the darkening woods in the background. Our "hummingbird moths" love to sip from it as well in the evening. It has unusual large and bright green leaves that make it look tropical for Minnesota. Easy and has a strong scent. |
Positive | On Jan 6, 2014, DavidLMo from St Joseph, MO wrote: This is NOT smoking tobacco. If you smoke this you will likely die. |
Positive | On Aug 21, 2012, canadiangreen from Lethbridge, I successfully started this plant from seed, transplanting it to a large barrel where it is growing 5 ft with many blooms. I did not expect to be able to grow this well in Southern Alberta. |
Positive | On Jul 17, 2012, Happytogrow from Montreal, Love it! I live in southern Quebec and house faces South, so front has full sun exposure. We just had 4 weeks without rain and my lawn is pale yellow and crackling, but my Nicotiana is doing superbly! I have not been watering regularly and it is almost 4' tall, flowering nicely and leave are bright green. Just pruned back some stems to help keep everything straight. Planted them in front of basement windows at 16" apart. Provides some shade from leaves but does not darken too much since top is airy. I open the basement windows during the night and the perfume just drifts in! Wonderful! |
Positive | On Apr 2, 2012, sladeofsky from Louisville, KY (Zone 6b) wrote: I grew this tobacco last year. When cold weather hit, it formed a basal rosette that persited through the mild winter and is now growing. I haven't read anything about this plant being a perrennial but I am happy it survived. |
Positive | On May 25, 2010, Fimiano from Minneapolis, MN wrote: i have grown this in my minneapolis-zone 4-garden for the last 10 summers.two years ago, I took my garden down in the fall, but neglected to remove two stumps of n.sylvestris.Well, to my utter amazement, both of the stumps started sprouting the next spring! And they were the hugest sylvestris I've ever grown:7 ft! OK, some of u may be skeptics, but I left those same two stumps ther again last fall, and yes, they are sprouting again from the base of last summer's stumps! These are not new seedlings from seeds dropped by the flowers, but vigorous new leafs sprouting from the dead-appearing stumps. I am sure they will be giants again..I will take photos & post them. |
Positive | On Apr 12, 2009, gardenhippie from Stroudsburg, PA wrote: I planted this large plant in a big pot on my almost full sun deck. I then slightly moved it to have a bit of dappled shade and it did well. At first I was unhappy as the flowers got covered with bugs all over but then something came and ate all the small bugs over night and left the flowers unharmed and the plant just got beautiful with big leaves and tall stalks of night time sweet smelling flowers, all visitors to my deck were taken back by this unusual plant to put into a pot, I loved it !!! I plant it every year now without fail and get requests from friends to come and see again and again. Easy to collect the seeds. I grow this from seed that I start inside around mid march. |
Positive | On Jul 16, 2007, sallyg from Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7b) wrote: My first year with this. A tough plant that was easy to grow from seed indoors. They are blooming now at different sizes, in various sites around my yard, but the one with the best location has leaves up to 23 inches!! The leaves smell funky, but at night the flowers did have a sweet smell, a bit different from the moonflower scent. |
Positive | On Nov 19, 2006, donaldcorken from South Strafford, VT wrote: I can't say enough good things about this plant. One of those annuals that have the dramatic presence to hold their own in a mixed perennial border. Indispensable. Takes a while to get going when first planted, but then it takes off practically overnight. Requires plenty of moisture and good rich soil. |
Neutral | On Oct 22, 2006, TBGDN from (Zone 5a) wrote: These annuals are NOT for the faint of heart, nor for the gardener who gets intimidated at TALL plants. They are massive growers with stems reaching 4-6 feet, and leaves which can measure up to 20" in length & 8-10" wide! I grew a few from seeds this spring in peat pots, and transplanted to their garden locations at 3-4" in height. Growth is rapid and can take over a 3-4 square foot area easily: So do plan accordingly and give them room. |
Positive | On Aug 9, 2006, ladygardener1 from Near Lake Erie, NW, PA (Zone 5a) wrote: The first time I grew this plant from seed. I did not realize how big it would get. The leaves are 11 to 12 inches long, so don't plant anything small to close. |
Positive | On Jul 19, 2006, Anitabryk2 from Long Island, NY (Zone 6b) wrote: Plant wintersowed nicely. It seems to be very happy in a spot that gets morning and afternoon sun and midday shade. |
Positive | On Sep 6, 2005, ineedacupoftea from Denver, CO wrote: I wish to add some little bits about this nifty (and stinky-leafed) plant. |
Positive | On Sep 6, 2005, nelledoor from Lavina, MT (Zone 4a) wrote: A tiny start given to me by my favorite gardener, I really had no idea about this plant - will be a staple in my garden - and in pots on my deck as the jasmine fragrance in the evening is exotic!! It's very easy to just tip with your finger the dried seed pod into a paper envelope to collect seed. Very neat....as seeds are very tiny. I'm Zone 3-4 in this part of central Montana. |
Positive | On Aug 30, 2005, maineroses from Milo, ME (Zone 4a) wrote: grew great in Maine i want to see if it winters well |
Positive | On Aug 7, 2003, Ladyfern from Jeffersonville, IN (Zone 6a) wrote: It actually grows and looks good in my SW bed! (Most plants fail to thrive in that exposure.) AND being right against the brick wall, it has enough protection for the roots to make it through the winter here in zone 6! So the plants are going to need dividing soon! Those drooping flowers are so interesting looking and the foliage a refreshing lime green. |
Neutral | On Aug 8, 2001, poppysue from Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) wrote: An old fashioned favorite grown for its fragrance and unique panicles of drooping white flowers. Plants grow up to 6 feet tall and prefer full sun. |